A cool car is captivating in any culture, but lowriders form a cultural niche of their own. From Los Angeles to Laredo, these Mexican-American cultural touchstones aren't just entertaining either — they're fine works of art and sometimes even of engineering. The Bullock Texas State History Museum is celebrating lowriders in the exhibit Carros y Cultura: Lowriding Legacies in Texas, opening May 11 and running through September 2, 2024. The exhibit is in both English and Spanish, and represents the culture in a number of media including seven cars, five bikes, other artifacts from music, fashi ..read more

A new art installation on the Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and Bike Trail is inviting Austinites to engage in more conversations with their community. Titled “Conversation Stones,” the piece was created by local artist and native Austinite Diego Miroě-Rivera and is part of Tempo, a collaborative temporary public art program from the City of Austin Economic Development Department's Art in Public Places Program (AIPP) and the Trail Conservancy. Aiming to cultivate curiosity, promote tourism, and engage the community in a meaningful dialogue about public art, Tempo invited local visual artists to cr ..read more

From touchable installations to intricate and narrative textile artworks, the Austin art scene is showcasing a wide range of mediums, techniques, and themes this month. Many of the featured artists explore themes of identity, community, and storytelling. From Hunt Slonem's vibrant neo-expressionist paintings of wildlife exotica, to Marie Watt's installation that connects Indigenous teachings to the present COVID-19 recovery, these exhibitions offer a space for reflection and dialogue on the bonds that unite us across generations and cultures. Other artists, such as Karl Haendel and Bern ..read more

This summer, Austinites will have the opportunity to experience one of literature's greatest love stories in a new way. Austin Shakespeare, in partnership with the University of Austin, brings a fresh (and free) production of Romeo and Juliet to the Curtain Theatre, providing a distinctive fusion of traditional drama and contemporary creativity. Set against the backdrop of Lake Austin at the Curtain Theatre, a replica of an Elizabethan playhouse, this production promises a compelling mix of tradition and novelty. The production features a dynamic cast of 18 actors, including Austin Shakespea ..read more

Few artists developed styles as distinctive as Vincent Van Gogh and Claude Monet. The famous Dutch and French painters' heavy brushstrokes have viewers wishing they could jump through the painting to experience this artistic alternative reality — and thankfully, they can, when "Beyond Van Gogh" and "Beyond Monet" arrive in Austin. Both experiences will take place from May 31 to September 14 at the Austin American-Statesman Building (305 S. Congress Ave.), the former home of the local newspaper. Beyond Van Gogh is returning, and Beyond Monet appears to be new to Austin, although another immer ..read more

If a staycation is what you need, it doesn't have to involve an expensive hotel room. Ballet Austin is offering an opportunity to travel the world in an affordable world dance class series from April 29 to May 5. Ballet Austin is much more than a ballet company, inviting Austinites of all stripes through its doors throughout the year to learn about many kinds of dance. Next week, the dance studio is rounding up some of its non-ballet offerings for its inaugural World Dance Week, during which classes will only be $10 each. Everyone is welcome to stop by, regardless of a dancer's skill level ..read more

Best known for its holiday market, Blue Genie Art Bazaar (BGAB) has a spring fling for crafty Austinites who don’t want to wait until December to support their favorite makers. Kicking off on Friday, April 26, and running through Memorial Day, May 27, May Market is an art and shopping experience showcasing nearly 200 regional artists and artisans. Similar to its sister event, the market will feature a wide variety of hand-made items including jewelry, home decor, clothing, pottery, and fine art. Located at 6100 Airport Blvd., the market will open every Friday through Sunday from 10 am to 8 p ..read more

Houston’s iconic Rothko Chapel will undergo a substantial expansion that’s designed to enhance its spiritual and temporal missions. Dubbed Opening Space, the $42 million project will add new buildings just north of the existing Chapel on the other side of Sul Ross St. Founded in 1971 by the artist Mark Rothko and philanthropists and art collectors John and Dominique de Menil, the Rothko Chapel receives more than 100,000 visitors from more than 100 countries each year. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the interior is known for its 14 Rothko panels that are designed to inspi ..read more

Austin's Mexic-Arte Museum is shining a light on an ongoing program that celebrates the work of over a hundred Latinx artists from Texas and beyond. An exhibit that opened April 12 collects works that originated in the museum's art vending cart residencies — from 2012 until now — for display together through August 25, drawing a more explicit line between the permanently held works. According to the Mexic-Arte website, “changarrito” refers to the vending carts scattered around the streets of Mexico selling antojitos (street food) and more. Artist Maximo Gonzalez conceptualized the changarrit ..read more

Besides endless margaritas and frequent trips to Barton Springs, there’s one summer tradition Austinites can look forward to every year when triple digits hit: Paramount Theatre’s (air conditioned) Summer Classic Film Series, returning this year for its 50th Anniversary. The beloved historic theater is celebrating the milestone with a better-than-ever lineup ranging from old favorites to themed events and special screenings. Festivities kick off on opening weekend with the film that launched the series in 1975: Casablanca. The 1942 staple featuring Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman will scr ..read more