The art form of opera may date back to the 16th century, but Austin Opera is looking towards the future. On October 8, the company announced a sweeping investment in the city’s cultural growth. The nonprofit, a community fixture since 1986, unveiled plans for its new home at 5811 Trade Center Dr. — but it's not finished yet. Austin Opera relocated its administrative offices in September, but the major work will kick off in January 2025. By October 2025, the company hopes to debut the artistic wing of the building, which will include a 195-seat theater. The undertaking will also make room for ..read more

Whether you're drawn to vibrant paintings, intricate sculptures, or immersive installations, there's something to captivate every art enthusiast in this month’s exhibitions. This month, you'll find artists reclaiming narratives and celebrating often-overlooked stories. Several artists engage with their heritage, exploring themes of spirituality, ancestry, and the complexities of identity in the modern world. Others challenge traditional representations, offering new perspectives on femininity, motherhood, and social justice Raeanne Schachter amplifies the voices of women through bold, multi ..read more

When the sometimes dreaded task of holiday shopping rolls around again, Austinites have a huge advantage. This city is full of artisan fairs, and that increases in the late fall with the arrival of markets like Blue Genie Art Bazaar, returning for its 24th year November 15 to December 24. The local shopping market is virtually split between this and the Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, with the latter market focusing more on fine art and live music, while the former takes a wider, more utilitarian approach. This year there are more than 200 regional vendors, many of whose catalogs feature items t ..read more

Dorf, a community-driven art gallery known for its scrappy DIY persistence and social conscience, is moving to a new location this fall. Even better, it’s basically free: A partnership with the City of Austin means Dorf can move into Zilker Point, a new office building development neighboring the Zach Theatre, for $1 a year for up to 10 years. Plus, a city ordinance tailored to the building will keep the space free for more arts organizations to come. In celebration of the new space, DORF is hosting an opening reception on October 25. Founded by Sarah Vanderbeek and Eric Manche out of their ..read more

For Austin artist Joi Conti, it's all about community. Her brainchild, Tayo Na Magazine, releasing its second issue at a launch party September 26, is a resource for supporting local Filipino businesses and a photo essay documenting the joy in a common bond. "We knew that we wanted to show the idea of kapwa, the Filipino word that can translate to kindred, neighbor, and fellow humans," says Conti about the first issue. "But what I know of kapwa goes a little deeper: the sense of connectedness that you extend with a shared community that you treat like family." The magazine was conceived in 2 ..read more

A model stares into the camera with a cascade of ribbons streaming down their neck, and another coyly peeks out of a luxuriantly feathered coif. Shot against stark backgrounds in the studio, Austin photographer Randal Ford’s work evokes Richard Avedon’s seminal images for Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. But where the latter’s muses were models and Hollywood stars, Ford is more likely to shoot cows and chickens. On September 10, Ford released his third photography collection, Farm Life. After previously exploring exotic animals and domestic dogs, the local photographer went on a cross-country jou ..read more

Austinites can't be blamed for delaying their holiday shopping. It's not laziness but waiting for something better that comes every year. The popular Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, set up like an art show and featuring live local music, is returning to the Palmer Events Center December 14-23. This is the 49th season for the iconic Christmas market, which generally focuses on art and fine home decor; artisan items like leather-bound notebooks, cutting boards, and soap; and even some toys and other small novelties. There's something for almost everyone, including a wide range of price points, but ..read more

On November 16 and 17, the Texas Book Festival will once again take over much of downtown near the Capitol Building; and on September 19, the full lineup of authors and speakers was announced. This year is going to be a good one. For book-lovers, the Texas Book Festival is bigger than ACL, and these are the literary rockstars. Among the nearly 300 esteemed writers are two "headliners" (so to speak): Canadian journalist and author Malcom Gladwell, Austin's number one mascot, actor Matthew McConaughey. They'll be joined by Pulitzer Prize winner Jane Smiley, poet and NPR-deemed "genius" Hanif A ..read more

Art-loving Texans will soon have a new venue to explore. Houston’s Meow Wolf has set its opening date and revealed the theme that governs its interactive installations. Set to open on October 31, Houston’s Meow Wolf will be called Radio Tave — a riff on “radio wave.” Described in press materials as a radio station that’s been transported to another dimension, Meow Wolf visitors will be able to explore dozens of rooms filled with interactive elements such as hidden doors, paths, and portals. For those unfamiliar, Meow Wolf is a Santa Fe, New Mexico-based art collective that’s opening its fift ..read more

Austin has no shortage of murals, but this temporary installation is doing something differently — and the clean-up will be almost nonexistent. Design Austin and The Trail Conservancy have collaborated to create WaterWork, a series of videos to be projected onto the Seaholm Intake Building, at dusk on September 12 and 17. Between 10 and 15 local artists will provide videos that range in length from 15 second to two minutes. According to a press release, they all "reflect" (pun intended?) on how nature interplays with Austin's downtown, which is famous for the presence of the Colorado River ..read more