Artist Bio
Hello! My name is Austin Howlett and I am a Maui raised artist now living and working in New Mexico and I specialize oil painting. I primarily derive my inspiration from the people and environments that surround me so that I can create paintings that explore emotional vulnerability and self discovery. I am very much inspired by the inherent flaws found in humanity as a whole and in us as individuals and the small steps we can take to become better people. I love working as an artist because with every painting I feel as if am an adding to a sort of imagined world in my head and it allows me to connect with others through shared emotions and thoughts. Nothing brings me more joy than having a stranger really connect with a painting that I’ve created and that painting allowing us to have an open and honest conversation about life. Creating imagery has always been the best way for me to communicate with others and I feel honored to speak through my art as a career.
Artist Statement
At the core of my art lives humanity. Our perception of reality is filtered by unique emotions and thoughts and this relationship creates our identity. My artwork strives to express our perceived reality by delving into the relationship between humans and nature. I strive to portray the deep emotional connection that ties human kind to nature in a way that allows for self reflection and an acknowledgment of nature’s identity. My representations of humans blended into nature interpret the vibrant environment through my own filters of emotion that give the piece a vulnerable quality that allows the viewers to see the painting in a sensitive and truthful state. In order to capture the complex nature of the human condition I feel the need to go beyond realism and find a visual language that best captures the deep connection that we all share with nature.With the creation of every piece I strive to achieve a healing quality and a sense of tranquility as to stimulate a therapeutic visual experience. All of my work strives to humble the viewer and asks them to contemplate their role in the bigger picture of our world. I hope that each painting I create can encourage emotional vulnerability in its viewers so that we all can work through the things that plague us and eventually find a stronger and more empathetic version of ourselves on the other side.
Publications
My Modern Met. “Stunning Hyperrealistic Paintings Capture People’s Surreal Connection to Nature” (November 2023)
Shoutout Colorado Interview. “Meet Austin Howlett” : Professional Artist(January 5th 2021)
Marvelous Art Magazine May 2020 Surrealism Issue (May 3rd 2020)
Artrepreneur Art Business Journal “What makes a House a Home?” (May 8th 2020)
Art Shows
July 16th 2022. Abend Gallery 5x5 Project XI
June 1st 2022. Abend Gallery Terra Human Debut Solo Show
January 19th 2022. Abend Gallery 5x5 Project X at the LA Art Show
September 18th 2021. Abend Gallery Animalia III
June 26th 2021. Abend Gallery 5x5 Project IX
January 23rd 2020. Abend Gallery Contemporary Figuration Show.
December 5th, 2020. Abend Gallery 30th Annual Holiday Miniatures Show.
October 5th, 2018. Community College of Aurora, “24th Annual Gateway to the Rockies Art Show” Aurora, CO. Featured paintings: “Protected” , “Depth of Hope”
September 26th, 2018. Lone Tree Arts Center, “ 2018 Lone Tree Art Expo” Lone Tree, CO. Featured painting: “Infinite”
April 26th, 2018. Union Colony Civic Center, "52nd Annual National Greeley Art Exhibition and Sale" Greeley, CO. Featured paintings: " "Protected" , "Shelters Built on Men"
April 13th, 2018. Gallery 1505, "Spring Juried Show" Denver, CO. Featured painting: "Old Brother"
December 15th, 2017. Kanon Collective, "2017 Bibelot Show" Denver, CO. Featured painting: "Trapped in Light"
October 14th, 2017. Curtis Center for the Arts, "34th Annual All Colorado Show" Greenwood Village, CO. Featured painting: "Terra Firma"
October 13th, 2017. Lincoln Gallery, "Regional Fine Art Show" Loveland, CO. Featured painting:"The Search"
October 11th, 2017. Lone Tree Arts Center, "Lone Tree Art Expo" Lone Tree, CO. Featured painting: "In the Absence of Doubt"
September 14th, 2017. Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities, "Art & Conflict" Arvada, CO. Featured painting: "Erasing Our Humanity"
July 14th, 2017. Core New Art Space, "Contemporary Abstraction" Denver, CO. Featured painting: "Open Perspective"
April 14th, 2017. Lincoln Gallery, “2017 Loveland National Fine Art Show” Loveland, CO. Featured painting: “Infinite”
November 18th, 2016. Littleton Museum “Own an Original Exhibition” Littleton, CO. Featured paintings: "Desert Walkers"( First Prize) "Cloaked"
September 24th, 2016. Lone Tree Arts Center “15th Annual Lone Tree Art Expo” Lone Tree, CO. Featured paintings: "Rain Squall" "Fracture"
February 5th, 2016. Next Gallery “Next Up Show” National Show. Denver, CO. Featured painting: "Unknown Light"
November 21st, 2015. Bell Gallery “Annual Denver Square Foot Art Show”. Denver, CO.
October 30th, 2015. Redline “One Square Foot Show”. Denver, CO
March 30th, 2015. Colorado College. Solo exhibition of Art studio senior thesis show consisting of oil painting and photo manipulation. Colorado Springs, CO
Festivals
June 22nd- 24th, 2018. Expo New Mexico, “ 57th Annual New Mexico Arts and Crafts Fair” Albuquerque, NM.
June 9th- 10th, 2018. Santa Fe Plaza, “40th Annual Challenge New Mexico Arts and Crafts Festival” Santa Fe, NM.
July 27th, 2017. The Church Nightclub, "Conception A Contemporary Art Show" Denver, CO.
June 10th, 2017. Lyons, "Lyons Art Walk" Lyons, CO.
July 23rd, 2016. Civic Center Park, "Denver International Festival" Denver, CO.
June 23rd, 2016. City Hall, "Trend, Raw Artist Showcase" Denver, CO.
Art Commissions
May 15th, 2019. Matt Devin, one landscape oil painting of Castle Rock , Colorado.
January 27th, 2019. Logan Savidge, one oil painting. Terra human painting.
October 8th, 2018. Josh Snyder, one oil painting. Terra human painting.
July 27th, 2018. Steven Otero, one oil painting. Church painting.
June 26th, 2018, Andrew Salazar, two oil paintings. One pet portrait, one landscape.
May 9th, 2018, Jason Pachon, one oil painting. Abstract landscape.
January 2017, Bobbi Kay, one oil painting. Landscape of Piney Lake.
January 2017, Tricia Manley, one oil painting. Abstract grey color palette.
October 2016, Terry and Jennifer Martinez, one oil painting. Abstract representation of a wedding ceremony with a Catholic marriage symbol.
July 2016, Nick Nyberg, Denver, one oil painting of a surreal robot family portrait.
2015, Aimee March Pachon, Colorado Springs, one photo manipulation portrait.
July-August 2015, Ellen Walker, Colorado Springs, 5 Landscape oil paintings.
July 2014, Jim Hocking, Colorado Springs. 2 India ink paintings of springboard divers.
November 2014, Mike Edmonds, Colorado Springs, Dean of Students/Vice President of Student Life. one Landscape Oil painting.
August, 2013. Colorado Springs. One landscape oil painting,
If you want to learn more about me, check out my most recent interview!