Top Austin Art Shows to See This Fall
Explore some of the city’s best upcoming art exhibitions, shows and events
Austin’s fall art season brings a strong lineup of shows worth seeing. Whether collecting, browsing, or just looking to spend time around beautiful works, the months ahead offer plenty of reasons to get out and explore.
“Where the Copper Hills Meet the Salt Water”
Martha’s Gallery
September 11 – October 3
In her solo exhibition “Where the Copper Hills Meet the Salt Water,” Hayley Labrum combines hyperreal portraits and religious imagery with copper pipes, mesh, salt and fabric. Drawing on her Utah upbringing, the works examine environmental pollution, the influence of the LDS Church and her decision to leave the faith.
“Strips, Stripes, Pieces, Parts” and “Parlour Tricks”
Ivester Contemporary
September 11 – October 17
Two solo exhibitions at Ivester Contemporary take different approaches to abstraction and storytelling. Regina Durante Jestrow’s “Strips, Stripes, Pieces, Parts” features sculptural textile works made from strips of dyed, painted and repurposed fabric arranged into geometric patterns. In “Parlour Tricks,” Christine Garvey uses vivid, surreal paintings of distorted bodies and theatrical illusions to explore motherhood, mythology and women’s identities.
“Silencio en El Fondo”
McLennon Pen Co. Gallery
September 12 – October 11
Aineki Traverso completed the works in “Silencio en el fondo” while spending August as McLennon Pen Co.’s summer artist-in-residence. Her dreamlike paintings combine partially obscured figures, landscapes and washes of color to reflect the unreliable ways people remember their bodies, families and pasts. Some continue across multiple panels and around gallery corners, creating a story that shifts as viewers move through the space.
Courtesy of Corbett vs Dempsey)
“The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry”
The Contemporary Austin – Jones Center
September 18, 2026 – January 17, 2027
“The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry” surveys the late Swedish artist’s vibrant, multidisciplinary practice through textiles, costumes, paintings, ceramics, posters and video. The Contemporary Austin is presenting the largest U.S. exhibition of Cherry’s work to date, alongside collage workshops, vinyl listening sessions and other events listed on the museum’s online calendar.
“Masquerade”
Ostillo Art Foundation
September 19 – June 2027
Masks appear as both physical objects and metaphors in “Masquerade,” the inaugural exhibition at Ostillo. Curated by Sacha Zerbib, the show uses painting, sculpture, photography and assemblage by 14 contemporary artists to consider how people construct, conceal and perform identity.
“Contrapuntals”
Icosa Collective
September 25 – October 24
Two artists look at what colonialism leaves behind in “Contrapuntals.” Intel Lastierre creates fluid paintings that move between flesh and landscape, while Vy Ngo uses paintings, architectural references and found materials to reflect on Vietnam’s layered history of occupation. The exhibition opens with a reception Sept. 25 from 7 to 10 p.m., followed by an artist talk Oct. 15.
“Concrete to Canvas”
West Chelsea Contemporary
September 25 – November 1
Lady AIKO, Logan Hicks and Joe Iurato bring their distinct approaches to street art together in “Concrete to Canvas,” an exhibition inspired by the people, architecture and visual rhythms of city life. The opening reception on Sept. 26 includes an artist talk with all three featured artists.
WaterWork
Seaholm Intake Facility
September 25–26
Twenty-two Central Texas artists will transform the Seaholm Intake Facility into a projection-mapped light show featuring site-specific video works designed around the building’s architecture. The visuals begin at dusk each night and can be viewed from Auditorium Shores, the Pfluger Pedestrian Bridge and other locations along the trail. Limited tickets are also available to watch the show from an open-air pontoon boat.
“Haas Brothers: Uncanny Valley”
Blanton Museum of Art
September 27, 2026 – Jan 17, 2027
The Blanton’s new exhibition features more than 80 works by Austin-raised artists Simon and Nikolai Haas, including fantastical trees, furry chairs and other intricately crafted objects. On Oct. 18, Blanton All Day: A Very Haas Halloween features live music, art talks and creative activities inspired by the exhibition.
“Valleys Made High” and “Returning Home, The Quiet of Undoing”
Verdant Gallery
October 1 – November 22
Verdant Gallery presents two solo exhibitions exploring abstraction and change. In “Returning Home, the Quiet of Undoing,” Andrew Long builds, scrapes and sands layers of paint in a process guided by intuition, while Hunter Ash’s “Valleys Made High” uses abstracted landscapes to consider impermanence, hope and the possibility of renewal. A joint opening reception takes place Oct. 1 from 5 to 8 p.m.
“Dojo: Place of the Way”
Gallery Dojo
October 3 – December 31
“Dojo: Place of the Way” introduces Gallery Dojo through work by 20 artists from across the country. Spanning realism, surrealism, romanticism and more expressive styles, the exhibition highlights a new generation of representational painters grounded in storytelling and technical craft. The gallery celebrates its grand opening Oct. 3 from 5 to 8 p.m
“Recency Bias”
Preacher Gallery
October 16 – November 5
Preacher Gallery will open “Recency Bias,” a show of new work by California artist and surf filmmaker Thomas Campbell, on Friday, Oct. 16. Campbell’s colorful, graphic style draws on surf and skate culture, with loose figures, patterns and handwritten text appearing throughout his work. The exhibition includes paintings, ceramics, bronze sculptures and sewn pieces. The reception runs from 6 to 9 p.m., and the show remains on view through Nov. 5.
The Very ‘Rary
Laguna Gloria
October 18 | 1–5 p.m.
Tickets: $40 general, $35 for members, free for kids under 4
This annual event at Laguna Gloria turns the sculpture park into a surrealist playground, with live music, theremin performances, mask-making, costumed creatures, and interactive installations woven through the grounds. Visitors can join collaborative art projects, explore hidden corners of the site, and take part in a range of all-ages activities. Proceeds support The Contemporary Austin’s K–12 education programs.