austin art history A Brief History of Austin Art For Austin
Texas the history of artists, art galleries, museums, art
education and religious art probably began near Zilker park with
symbolic pictographs created by shamans before American settlers
arrived. These settlers continued this history by making various
forms of folk art including quilts, carvings and gravestones.
Soon thereafter graffiti art appeared which was usually rendered
by soldiers, prostitutes, prisoners and drunkards…oh, my
goodness! Much religious artwork and artifacts were displayed in
the Spanish Missions. The French, German and Swedish settlers
contributed their sacred relics and images to their primitive
churches. Art classes in early public schools employed many of
the first artists in Texas. More advanced formal art education
began and developed with the advent of the University of Texas,
Southwestern University and several other institutions. Elizabet
Ney set up a studio in the late 1800’s and made sculptures for
the State government