Austin Stiegemeier

Austin Stiegemeier grew up in Northern Idaho and holds an MFA from Washington State University (2013). Austin’s works focuses on people and their relationship to the modern social environment. He works with a drawing-based approach and explores working on a wide range of materials from commercial vinyl sticker to scavenged cardboard and trash. He uses drawing, painting, printmaking, sculpture, installation, street art and performances to focus attention on contemporary social issues. He appreciates alternative applications of art to audience and considers his work strategy as non-conformist, yet accessible in oddly charming ways; for example, he once sold $70 worth of made-to-order panhandling signs on scavenged cardboard, drawn for a live audience. All monies were donated to the local nonprofit, Spokane Ink. Austin recently attended a residency in Barcelona and will exhibit at Minan Gallery, Los Angeles in 2015. He teaches printmaking at Eastern Washington University.

Austin received a 2014 GAP for materials for the smART CART project to raise awareness regarding homelessness. He intends to create visibility in public spaces in an effort to educate and engage the public about social justice and economic equality using creative projects. This project will help provide youth with opportunity for upward social mobility through secondary and higher education accessibility. The project will be supported with an online presence.