Founding Member of ICOSA, Jonas Criscoe, to Showcase Artwork in His Austin Home
View pieces from local artist's collection in pop-up art show
Open houses aren’t just for prospective residents; they’re for art galleries, too! On July 22, local artist Jonas Criscoe will host a pop-up exhibition featuring a “survey” of his past artwork. From 6 -10 p.m., Austinites can visit his home in the charming Crestview neighborhood to view pieces from his past series, dating back to 2008.
Though Criscoe has lived in this Crestview house for only four years, he is not an Austin transplant. Born and raised here, Criscoe considers Austin his home despite having lived all across the country: New York, Seattle, Providence, South Carolina, Minneapolis, even Barcelona.
His work has also made its way across the country, having been displayed at several institutions — some of which include the International Print Center New York and the Minnesota Museum of American Art. In 2006, he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Texas at Austin, and in 2008, his Master of Fine Arts from the Rhode Island School of Design.
Renowned Austin artists makes way for Houston
He’s currently an associate professor at Austin Community College where he has been teaching since 2019. He’s also on faculty at The Contemporary Austin and is a founding member of ICOSA, an artist-run nonprofit space based in Austin. But now, he plans to move to Houston to expand his work.
“Helping facilitate and grow the (art) scenes in Texas is (my) goal,” Criscoe says. “Moving to Houston will help because it has bigger, older institutions and more of a market and collector base, (…) but I am also going to be keeping a presence in Austin.”
Pop-Up Show Celebrates Austin Art Culture
This weekend’s art show will kickstart a new era. Criscoe says he decided to a do a house pop-up to align with the Austin art culture that celebrates DIY spaces like hosting apartment and garage shows.
With most of his belongings already in Houston, his Austin home (7711 Mullen Drive) now resembles a makeshift gallery with no furniture and hardwood floors. Visitors can expect a reception area in the backyard and will have the chance to tour his home studio, which he plans to dismantle next week.
The house’s structure will shape the exhibition format with each room displaying pieces from each of his art series. Around 20 pieces will be featured — some being for sale and others a sneak peek into his private collection. Criscoe says he’s excited to display pieces that have never been exhibited and hopes visitors will see his creative process through his work.
“I hope (guests) get a fuller picture of how art is created and (realize) that art doesn’t just happen,” Criscoe says. “(…) This doesn’t just come into existence out of nowhere; it’s a buildup.”
To see his work, you can visit the exhibition on July 22 at 7711 Mullen Drive or check out his website at jonascriscoe.com. You can stay updated on his latest work and gallery shows via Instagram @jonascriscoe.