Jason Archer is an American visual artist and pioneer of the contemporary art scene in Austin, Texas. His work combines pop art and cultural archetypes to create contemporary myths that reinterpret historical events, natural phenomena, or existing rituals.
Jason is the author of a variety of artistic works as a filmmaker, animator, painter and muralist, both in collaboration and solo. His work includes political satire and Texas-inspired characters such as Jesus Cornbread and Alcoholics and Walker of the Dead. Archer’s early career in animation earned him a Grammy Award and an MTV Video of the Year Award for directing and animating Frijolero, a music video for the Mexican rock band Molotov. From 2011 to 2018, Archer launched the revival of mural culture in Austin by producing and curating Frank Public Art, a periodic public art project in downtown Austin. He is co-owner of Show Goat Mural Works, a mural development company specializing in the design and installation of large-scale murals such as Daniel Johnston’s Love is the Question? Jason has participated in numerous art shows, exhibitions and events, starting with Chianti Weekend, SXSW and the first Pop Austin International Art Show. He is also the curator of Preacher Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Austin, Texas.
He worked as an animator on the feature film Waking Life, then began directing music videos for artists such as David Byrne and Latin musicians Molotov and Juanes. His short films include the satirical trilogy The State of Union, The Homeland Ho-Down and Clean Sweep. In 2006, he teamed up again with Richard Linklater and Tommy Pollack, this time as head of animation on A Scanner Darkly. Jason is a contributing illustrator to the Austin American Statesman and has been a guest lecturer at the University of Texas at Austin, Texas State University, and Tecnológico de Monterrey.
