Austin Studio Tour Returns with a Citywide Celebration of Art
This November, explore Austin’s creative side as over 500 artists open their studios for the city’s largest art tour
Discover art in every corner of the city during this year’s Austin Studio Tour. What began more than two decades ago as separate East and West Austin events now comes together this November, celebrating the city’s creative community under one creative banner.
Presented by Almost Real Things (ART), the 23rd Annual Austin Studio Tour will take place across two weekends: Nov. 8-9 and Nov. 15-16 from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. This fall, the Studio Tour will offer more than 200 art spaces and 500 local artists opening their doors to the public.
This year’s Studio Tour embraces a new citywide format, marking a major shift for the long-running tradition, which for years divided its maps into East and West weekends.
“This year’s Studio Tour is about building the most inclusive, accessible, and interactive experience yet,” says Natalie Earhart, co-founder of Almost Real Things. “There are talented artists in every part of the city, and we want every neighborhood to be part of this celebration.”
City brimming with talent
With incredibly staggering numbers — 515 artists, 89 art groups and 116 hosts set to participate, along with over 75,000 attendees expected and eager to explore Austin’s studios, galleries and pop-up exhibitions.
A new Austin Studio Tour Guidebook will map out artists, locations and family-friendly programming, while guest-curated routes online help visitors “choose their own adventure.”
Art Bus Tours will offer two-hour guided journeys through various parts of the city, providing a spontaneous exploration of hidden gems.
Weekend highlights
The ICOSA Collective’s annual exhibition will bring together works selected from a national open call by curator Rachel Eboh, featuring everything from sculpture to photography and video art.
Over at Women & Their Work, artist Hannah Spector will present her mesmerizing solo show: “if you stare at a cowboy’s face for long enough, it turns into a sunset.” This multimedia exploration of western iconography explores an experience through sound, film and ceramic sculpture.
This year’s lineup additionally welcomes a meaningful first: the Austin Powwow will host its debut showcase at the city’s new Native American Cultural Center, featuring modern and traditional Indigenous art, craft demonstrations and family activities.
Other interactive events will include MakeATX, which will offer live laser-cutting demos and handmade gifts; Spilled Milk Social Club’s Cardboard Arcade (Nov. 8 only), where kids and adults can play youth-built carnival games; and the Artists Screen Printing Co-op, where visitors can bring a T-shirt and print one-of-a-kind designs to take home.
Opening night celebration
The festivities will begin with a special Preview Night on Thursday, November 6 at Canopy Projects (916 Springdale Rd). Artists, partners and supporters will gather for an exclusive first look at selected works. Expect light bites, drinks, and a celebratory toast with the Almost Real Things founders to usher in this exciting new chapter for the annual Studio Tour.
Community remains the heartbeat of the Austin Studio Tour. Since its launch in 2015, Almost Real Things has grown from a free quarterly magazine into one of Austin’s most active art networks. The creative platform has hosted more than 200 events, connecting thousands of local artists.
Now in its 23rd year, the Austin Studio Tour continues to celebrate the city’s creative spirit, uniting artists and audiences through discovery, connection and a shared love of art.