A few years ago, Austin-based photographer Mia Baxter (Minta Maria) began photographing at the San Antonio Charreda, a Mexican rodeo in her hometown. The project is ongoing, so after each rodeo (their season runs monthly from April to November), she adds to her collection with eye-catching images that capture the beauty and rich tradition of the Charro-from the sleek horses and elaborate costumes to the scenes around the grounds of the Charro Ranch.
A woman long ahead of her time, Gay Geddis founded T3 in 1989 in Austin, which has grown to become one of the largest women-owned advertising agencies in the country. She now paints Texas landscapes from her ranch in the Hill Country. All twenty pieces presented during her first exhibition at New York’s Curator Gallery last May sold out.
Photo courtesy of Gay Geddis
Textures, colors, and sizes – everything about Dan Lam’s sculptures is fascinating. She has cleverly named her various collections as they appear: “squishy,” “drippy,” and “drops.” But regardless of the category, we can’t stop exploring them from every angle. Born in Manila and educated at the University of North Texas, Lem uses polyurethane foam, acrylic paint, and resin to make her sculptures. (Miley Cyrus is a fan – she may have found her through Instagram, where Lem has over 115,000 followers.)
Kyle Steed has become a well-known muralist in the Big D, having completed large-scale works along the Trinity Strand walkway, on the roof of the Plaza of the Americas, and inside Oak Cliff Coffee. However, he also enjoys working on smaller canvases with just a pen and paper. Steed mostly avoids color, preferring a black and white palette. “I like the constraints it gives me, forcing me to deal with the intention of the piece rather than an emotional connection to color,” he says. From time to time, Steed shares pieces on his blog that are available for free download, like a recent small piece that featured the phrase “A Little Loves Goes a Long Way,” which he encouraged people to send to friends or post on their wall.
Xavier Shipani, a Washington, D.C.-based resident and Maryland Institute College of Art graduate, currently lives and paints in East Austin, where his work often explores sexuality, gender identity, and pop culture. His clever use of graphics and fearless approach to color have attracted fans such as the Foo Fighters. He created the cover art for the band’s EP Saint Cecilia, which was recorded over a long weekend at the South Austin hotel it is named after.
Trained as a landscape architect, Erica Huddleston spends her days painting on canvas in many of Texas’ urban parks. From Shoal Creek to the Trinity River, the artist who grew up in Dallas is most interested in exploring nature in urban settings. From huge branches to delicate flowers, all of the images in her paintings and drawings are life-size oils.
LAND’s Caleb Owen Everitt and Ryan Rhodes spend most of their time working on brands like Ace Hotels, Nike, and Patagonia from their headquarters in East Austin. And yet it’s their artwork, like this original oil on found canvas piece, that we can’t get enough of.
