I met Richard Samuel, owner of RichesArt (artist, curator, and creative leader) for the first time…read moreat an Art contest on yesterday. He said the gallery's name is a play off his name with an art emphasis. Rich shared that his gallery was the only African American art gallery in Austin, thus I was intrigued. Since we finished the Art contest judging sooner than anticipated, I popped by his art gallery also located in East Austin. RichesArt is mind blowing! The gallery feels like a full-on creative space. This is not your typical art gallery vibe with stark white walls where you cannot touch anything. This place is beaming with bright, bold colors that scream...this is art!!! The walls exude color, texture, life! There is a strong graffiti influence, mixed media, and pieces unapologetically authentic. The art gallery also serves as community hub. They host poetry slams, live jazz, a figure drawing class, art classes, and comedy shows. According to Rich, it's a creative playground for grown folks. While it was free to enter the art gallery, some of their events have an associated cost. The gallery environment is incredibly welcoming. A few folks were waiting to start a graffiti class. It appears folks come to RichesArt to connect and create. According to Rich, inclusivity is intentional and the gallery was built to reflect and celebrate culture.

Here's a refined and slightly expanded version that keeps your tone genuine while adding clarity,…read moreflow, and a bit more texture--perfect for Yelp: RichesArt Gallery is an absolute must-see for anyone visiting or living in Austin. The gallery showcases work from a truly diverse group of artists, each bringing a distinct and thoughtful approach to expression. There's a real sense of creativity and intention behind the curation. You don't feel like you're just walking through another generic art space. The owner is an exceptionally talented and kind young man, and that energy clearly sets the tone for the entire gallery. From the moment you walk in, you feel a warmth and openness that makes you want to slow down, look closely, and actually experience the art rather than rush through it. Beyond the main gallery space, there are outdoor installations that add another layer of interest, as well as a vintage boutique tucked away in the back that's well worth exploring. It feels like a place that's constantly evolving, with new details and updates that would make repeat visits rewarding. This is definitely the kind of spot I'd return to regularly just to see what's new. Unfortunately, I live in another state but for those of you in Texas, take full advantage of having a place like this nearby. It's absolutely worth the trip.

We had a private birthday party for our daughter and it was perfect way to spend a couple hours…read more They went way beyond our expectations. Zoey and her daughters have a really passion for the art and the house in W. 6th is a great spot. Filled with a lot of heart the team there really enjoyed it as much as the kids did. Probably one of the best hidden gems still left in Austin!

Austin Creative Art Center is a long standing educational space that inspires all who walk through…read morethe door! If you want to be a better artist look no further than ACAC!

So glad the gallery is back open now that we are all managing COVID better. This exhibition space…read morewelcomes new memberships if you are so inclined to provide support, the art on view is usually for sale, and there are several artist studios behind the gallery, should you be interested. Check out the website for more information.

This is the coolest place! We visited while we were in town. My childhood friend participated in…read moretheir weekend studio tour and invited us to stop by. As soon as we approached the building, I knew I'd love it. The space is so colorful and vibrant, with amazing murals outside that are the perfect backdrop for pictures. There's a space in front of the building where some vendors set up. As soon as you walk in, your eyes are assaulted with so many options of where to look at. Every wall and corner is full of art waiting to be admired. If you decide to start on the left side, there's a space that's set up more like a gift shop, with visual art, prints, sculptures, handmade art, cards, and so many things other to buy. If you walk to the right side, you realize the building is a lot bigger than you expected. There's so many rooms that seem to be used by individual artists, all showcasing their art. We ran out of time before exploring it all but will definitely come back. There was one room that was all dark with black lights and had bright neon art, it was the coolest thing! I looked up their website and learned that they're the largest artist and creative complex in Texas, housing around 130 multidisciplinary artists, including painters, photographers, filmmakers, tech artists and more. They offer studio spaces available for rent, events, coworking, and lots of programming to invite the community to support the artists. Every city should have a place like this!

POT DADDY!!! Yes!!! Amazing pottery experience. I will be back! I took myself on a solo date here…read moreand it was better than I expected! It's tucked away in a neighborhood in the owners home. There's limited parking, about 8 spots on the property. It's beautifully situated and the set up is so nice. They provide aprons, overalls and slide shoes if you don't want to get your clothes dirty. Today's group was super small just me and 3 others! We learned to use the wheel, the process that happens afterwards and then you practice detachment by leaving your piece and choosing 1-2 others to take home! It honestly takes time to glaze and finalize the pieces which is why you do not take yours home. I found the cutest pieces!! Katie was a lovely and patient instructor! I'll definitely be back!

My wife and I absolutely loved our experience at Pot Daddy Studio. She had wanted to try a pottery…read moreclass for years and this exceeded our expectations. First, I loved the venue. It's a bit outside of Austin. But it had an eclectic feel in the woods, which definitely aligns with what we expect in Austin. Second, the teachers are fantastic and patient to give you proper guidance. Third, the music was soothing while we made pottery. Lastly, there are great pieces that you can purchase and walk away with. Overall, an amazing experience!

The Dojo is full the brim with skill! You'll find yourself learning from teachers and students…read morealike. There's a certain level of dedication that exists within these falls that you can feel in your bones! I meet people all over the city sprouting compliments, which says a lot because I host drawing socials and bounce around art studios all over Austin. It's been said that Atelier Dojo is the place to be! Pictures feature : student work from Danny Grant's 6-week, 6-session Intro to Figure Drawing session from a few months back!

Artists and people who seriously want to "up" their drawing and painting skills should take a good…read morelook at Atelier Dojo Fine Arts Academy in Austin. The instructors Jennifer Balkan and Roz Seriz are accomplished artists AND excellent instructors. They teach a traditional academy approach in a relaxed studio environment with helpful fellow students. The experience is virtually guaranteed to sharpen your artistic eye and improve your techniques in the media instructed. Not inexpensive but the outcomes are well worth the financial investment in yourself.

Stopped in here yesterday and decided to check out this gallery. There is a large variety of…read morehigh-quality art pieces here. The owner is very knowledgeable about all the items in the store and has recommendations and personal stories about some of them as well. They even have financing for the items in the store if you should want to take advantage of it. I definitely recommend stopping in here if you like quality local art.

This gallery does not pay its artists. We are owed more than $4,000 for pieces they've sold. Do not…read moredo business here if that is not OK with you.

So my plan was to originally visit for free because I heard they had an event on the weekend but…read moreThe Contemporary has TWO locations and it was free for the downtown museum only that day. This is Laguna Gloria, and it features sculptures all outdoors. We ended up paying since we were already there. BUT Laguna Gloria is FREE on Thursdays. Other days is $10 pp and if you didn't pay in advance online, they can take payment at the gift shop. Though, I'm not sure how they enforce it because it looks like you can just pass by the gift shop and enter the park. As a former art student, I just wasn't that impressed or intrigued by the art. You have to walk a ways away to visit the next sculpture. They provide a map at the gift shop, but since I'm not good at geographic directions, I just allowed my husband to plan the walking route for us. We got to see all the sculptures (there aren't a lot...15?) In total, we were probably there for less than an hour. I didn't understand some sculptures. I saw a lonely, abandoned light pole covered with spiderwebs and joked to my husband, "look at this artwork!" It turns out, it was actually art because there's a sign next to it introducing the art piece and everything. Awkward. Anyway...appreciated walking around the grounds. My favorite is the crying Miffy fountain, which is one of the first things you see when you enter the grounds. Street parking only (unless you are an art student or staff there).

Laguna Gloria is one of the most beautiful and inspiring locations in Austin. The combination of…read morehistoric architecture, waterfront views, sculpture gardens, and Mediterranean-style details makes it feel truly unique. As a brand and lifestyle photographer in Austin, I've photographed several sessions here and it consistently offers stunning, versatile backdrops. The natural light is especially soft and flattering, and there's so much variety throughout the property that clients can get multiple looks in one session. Beyond photography, it's also just a peaceful place to explore art, walk the grounds, or bring visitors. The atmosphere feels calm, creative, and timeless every time I visit. https://www.camilleadrianephotography.com