It's been 20 years since artist Alexander Austin first hung his work on the streets of Kansas City. Back then, he was homeless, using twigs for paint brushes and brick walls for canvasses and trying to turn a buck doing portraits in bars. Now his murals not only decorate dozens of corners in the urban core, but also welcome visitors to the downtown Power and Light District.
For all his visibility, Austin has never had a solo exhibit until now.
Earnest to Epic, which opened Friday at the YWCA's Sixth Street Gallery, spans Austin's career, showcasing meticulous pencil drawings that could be mistaken for photographs and larger-than-life paintings that betray his background as a billboard artist. Chatting with new fans and reminiscing with old friends, the laid-back artist said the body of work includes a little bit of everything.
He's got original sketches for his first mural of Martin Luther King Jr. that was demolished to make way for the Bruce R. Watkins highway. He's debuting massive, shadowy portraits of dance icon Alvin Ailey and boxing legend Muhammad Ali. And he's finally parting with a few one-of-a-kind items, like a drawing of Danny Glover, autographed by the actor.
But, exhibit aside, Austin's got some new mural projects in mind.
Members of a local church recently asked Austin if he would help restore a painting inside their sanctuary. As a trade for his services, Austin says he's asking the church to help restore one of his oldest Kansas City murals: the Martin Luther King, Jr. painting at the corner of Linwood and Troost avenues. Over the past few months, the bottom of the mural has crumbled, exposing the brick behind the decaying imagery of Rosa Parks. Once Austin gets a new coat of concrete, he's going to update the piece to include a rendering of President Barack Obama.
That's not the only task on his to-do list. Now that his work is spread all across town, Austin's trying to put together a mural tour. He envisions students packed into school buses, learning not only the finer points of larger-than-life art but understanding the characters that built their city. From the icons of the jazz district to the founder of The Kansas City Call to the Gates barbecue barons, Austin has absorbed local lore with each project. "Everywhere there's a mural, there's a story," he says. "I'd like to stop doing so many murals and start teaching people about them."
In the meantime, Austin's work is on display and available for purchase at the YWCA 6th Street Gallery until March 10. Some prints are as cheap as $25. Here's a peek at the goods.
like
dislike
