J Muzacz is an Art of Austin artist! Check out his work!
J is a community leader and has has superior hustle skills and some absolutely killer work across a wide range of mediums and scales. Read his interview to get the scoop!J Muzacz (GIVE ONE) – Artist and Co-Founder
The Mosaic Workshop @ Something Cool Studios
J Muzacz
AoA – How long have you been in Austin and how did you find your way here?
J – Born and raised in Houston, came to Austin back in 2002 to attend UT, and except for a few years abroad here and there, I fell in love with the city and never left.
AoA – When did you realize that you were an artist?
J – To be honest, there were many years when I wasn’t really sure. It was more of a hobby and I always had side hustles to pay the bills. That kept it pure, but it also often compromised the time and energy I had to commit to Art. I knew I was an artist when I sold a painting to a stranger when I was 19. A few years pass. I knew I was an artist when I made a 10 ft tall dinosaur out of trash that found its way into the paper, and then Burning Man. A few years pass. I knew I was an artist when I was painting with Korea’s finest at a festival along the Han River Seoul. A few more years pass. I knew I was an artist winning open calls for public art projects. Now, I know I am an Artist because I do it seven days a week and that is increasingly all I know, and I can’t imagine a life doing anything else.
AoA – Where do you find inspiration?
J – Nature, culture, subculture. I want to use my Art and labor to amplify causes that resonate with me and I feel passionately about. Could be considered a non-violent and celebratory form of protest, or perhaps just something to brighten someone’s day, but I try to keep it happy and light.
AoA – What is your work concerned with?
J – People, legends, nature, inspiration, positivity, progressive ideals. Immersion and research help make my work poignant and important. My styles might jump around, but I try my best to remain unique, authentic, inspired and innovative. I also strive to empower others through initiating collaborations of all kinds with other artist creatives and non-artists as well. Making work in the public, together, can be life-changing and contributes something of lasting value for everyone involved.
AoA – Can you speak to your art training?
J – I had a foundation from taking all the Art classes and Art club in High School. I took some electives in printmaking at UT, I apprenticed with the space spray paint guy down on 6th street circa 2003, and I learned a whole lot from backpacking Europe when I was 21 and from painting with international graffiti artists in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Australia and New Zealand overseas. Everywhere I went I could find the local writers and artists, and we would have an immediate bond, like a huge worldwide family. We would grab some supplies and go paint, swapping tips and tricks along the way in broken English and bits of other languages. We communicate through color and style.
AoA – What are your preferred medium(s)?
J – Currently: Glass tile mosaic and repurposed ceramic, Previously: spray paint, recycled house paint, glossy acrylics and black broad tip Decocolor oil markers.
AoA – Can you talk a little about your creative processes?
J – Site-specificity is key in my practice, as is community input. My loose overarching inspiration and narratives are that of environmental awareness and stewardship, and elevating icons, living legends and those passed, who align with my passions and interests in creating a better world for all. But yeah I try to design for spaces in particular in a way that will complement the entire experience for people there. I also work in series, so I rarely make single pieces randomly in a bubble, but instead embark on a journey to create a set, triptych, or a dozen paintings or mosaic pieces for an encompassing and cohesive exhibition. I find that in that structure and with these somewhat arbitrary goals, I can grow as an artist from project’s beginning to end, and learn a lot about myself, the subjects I am depicting, the community therein, and about any collaborators along the way. One might say my process is crowdsourced and socio-relational.
AoA – Do you have any feelings towards Digital Art versus traditional mediums?
J – It’s all good in the hood. I learned Photoshop in 7th grade and it changed my life. Infinite possibility at the click of a mouse. Then again you can never get the same feeling you do spray painting from a mouse and screen either, as hard as VR apps might try. But there is definitely value and something romantic about tactile media, too. That’s partly why I fell in love with mosaic making these last few years. More than ever, texture, material, and the undeniable evidence of the human hand is incredibly important to this last dying era of physical artwork. The world is going completely digital, save for some human experiences with old school reality in the public sphere. Artificial Intelligence can already draw and paint much better than me. So I am posturing myself to make work that cannot be duplicated or digitized so as not to become obsolete. Monumental glass and ceramic art that requires dozens of hands to create over time. Though ironically my pixel murals are a form of digital impressionism and are highly dependent on technology to design. Nonetheless the final product must ultimately be rendered and installed by hand.
AoA – Who are some artists that you look to?
J – Guido Van Helten, Vhils, JR, Mad C, Kevin Champeny, Jim Bachor, Stefanie Distefano, Invader, Faith47, Swoon, Case Maclaim, El Mac, Kaws, Odeith, Elian Chali, Daniel Arsham
AoA – If you could own 1 piece from a living artist, who would it be?
J – Daniel Arsham, but it totally wouldn’t go with my decor LOL!
AoA – Big question. What do you feel the role of art is in the world?
J – Art is so many things. Art is a powerful communicator beyond language. Art is hope. Art is a refuge. Art is therapy, self-expression, meditation. There’s no mystery why Art is so important to an industry like advertising. Art gives us a way to record history, how we want to remember it. Art helps us find common ground in order to work together in solidarity for a better future.
I want to make a point of also what I think art’s role shouldn’t be, and that is purely commercial, or exploitative, or egotistically driven. Personal narrative and branding is fine, but artists should be honest with themselves why they create. For all the power it wields, Art should most definitely be intentional.
AoA – What else do you enjoy besides making art?
J – Riding my bike, walking around, swimming, traveling, and Japanese food.
AoA – We almost hate to ask because that’s all we hear about these days, but how have you had to adapt as an artist to the current Covid-19 pandemic? Where can we currently find your work?
J – No worries at all. I think it is important we recognize and face the situation head on, as difficult as that may be in order to transform our society and world for the better as we come out of the struggle and move forward. I am doing more small scale work, online IG auctions, and taking commissions for the time being. I also am searching out ways to host social distance workshops to keep sharing the skills that I have learned over the years with the hopes that other people, especially non-artists, can be inspired and equipped with that new knowledge or technique they too can express themselves. And planning a lot for the future. Big things are coming whenever we can all go outside again. Follow me on Instagram and/or Facebook for art auctions and drops, and contact for commissions.
AoA – Any final advice for all the artists reading out there?
J – Art is Work, there’s no way around that. So make yourself a routine, figure out what works, cut out what doesn’t, create constantly. You have to be productive and prolific in this day and age just to keep up let alone stand out, so dedicate yourself 110%. If you aren’t actively making work, study other artists, learn some art history, track the lineage of your personal techniques and styles. Respect those who paved the way before you and stay humble as you begin carving out your own path. And be professional. A lot of people wonder how I get so many jobs, it’s because I show up on time and answer emails promptly, applying to open calls and being easy to work with. You can also create your own reality, applying for shows constantly until you land one, and making your resume and portfolio undeniable for the type of artwork you want to make. There are no excuses in the art world, it is what you make it. But it will take time, so don’t expect to blow up over night. Realistically you should have a ten-year plan, and a shit ton of patience.
Connect with J Muzacz!