City Guide / Austin

An Art Lover’s Guide to Austin

By Landing | Feb 12, 2021
Art scene in Austin, Texas

Given the slogan “Keep Austin Weird,” it’s no surprise that Texas’ capital city isn’t just famous for being the live music capital of the world. Every year, nearly 20 million tourists are drawn to Austin, TX thanks to the city’s iconic attractions—ranging from food trucks and vintage stores to their ever-growing art scene.

As a magnet for creatives, Austin is home to an eclectic mix of artists, actors, and musicians who comprise the city’s fast-growing art scene. In Austin, art is much more than just a tourist attraction—it’s part of the city’s soul and creative spirit. From independent art exhibits and theatrical performances to live music shows, here’s everything you need to know to immerse yourself in Austin’s diverse art scene.

Volcom Garden

Austin’s Volcom Garden is a boutique, art gallery, and live music venue with recording capabilities. The Garden’s art gallery was created and curated by skate artist and Austin local Michael Sieben, who also runs Volcom’s global art program. Additionally, the Garden serves as an embodiment of Volcom’s “True To This” mantra, welcoming Austin musicians, artists, and creators with a passion for creativity and self-expression.

Located just minutes away from favorite local restaurants like Prohibition Creamery and Licha’s Cantina, Volcom Garden plans to expand to provide a unique skate-able landscape. Throughout the year, The Garden hosts live music performances, indie film screenings, art shows, and other creative events featuring both local Austin artists and global creators.

The Austin Film Festival

As one of the top film festivals in the United States, the Austin Film Festival (AFF) screens indie and top-billed films every October during the October Austin Film Festival and Conference. Previously called the Austin Heart of Film Screenwriters Conference, the AFF originally functioned to launch, represent, and support the careers of screenwriters.

The Austin Film Festival screens a wide range of films every year—many that are on the verge of release and that you might later discover are Oscar nominees. The October Conference brings together professional and amateur screenwriters to celebrate the role of screenplays in filmmaking and to host conversations surrounding particular films and series.

Blanton Museum of Art

Founded in 1963, the Blanton Museum of Art is one of the top university art museums in the United States and holds the largest collection of public art in Central Texas. The Blanton is widely recognized for its vast collection of modern and contemporary American and Latin American art, Italian Renaissance and Baroque paintings, and Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin.

The Blanton is the perfect spot for any art lover searching for a thought-provoking, personally moving experience with art. Centrally located at the intersection of Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue, the Blanton offers free admission every Thursday.

Big Medium

Big Medium is an Austin-based non-profit organization dedicated to supporting local artists in Austin, with past projects like East Austin Studio Tour, the Texas Biennial, and the West Austin Studio Tour. Big Medium exhibits innovative art galleries throughout the year to provide affordable studio spaces to local artists and partners with other Texas art organizations to help support the state’s fast-growing art scene.

With upcoming virtual coffee chats with local artists and ongoing virtual exhibitions, Big Medium offers wide-ranging opportunities to get involved in Austin’s eclectic art scene and learn more about the city’s local artists and creators.

The Bullock Museum

Located on 1800 Congress Avenue in Downtown Austin, The Bullock Texas State History Museum embraces the state’s rich history, telling the “Story of Texas” with three floors of interactive exhibits and artifacts. In addition to a wide range of historical art exhibits, the Bullock also features special effects shows in the Texas Spirit Theater and is home to Austin’s premier IMAX Theatre.

The Bullock’s IMAX Theatre is open for documentaries during exhibition hours and feature film showtimes Wednesday through Sunday. Meanwhile, the Texas Spirit Theater screens multisensory films with reduced effects. For families interested in visiting the museum, the Bullock also offers educational programs and resources for younger children.

Land a great apartment in Austin, Texas

Whether you’re planning the perfect art lover’s vacation to Austin or thinking about moving to the state’s capital city to channel your creativity, finding a reliable and professional housing provider is essential. With flexible leasing and fully furnished apartments, corporate housing, or short-term housing, is the best choice for anyone searching for furnished apartments in Austin, TX.

Regardless of whether you’re interested in staying for a few weeks or 12 months, Landing has got you covered. With fully furnished studios and one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments for rent in up-and-coming Austin neighborhoods like Crestview, Sunset Valley, and Buda, Landing takes the hassle out of finding the perfect apartment in a new city.

With 24/7 concierge service and beautifully designed layouts, our apartments are equipped with everything you need, allowing you to use your time in Austin to immerse yourself in the city’s eclectic art scene, one-of-a-kind attractions, and thriving nightlife.

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Ted may be the world's slowest typist and struggle to hold a pen, but he has mastered how to pursue a more flexible lifestyle throughout his airborne adventures around the U.S. Whether you're looking for more information before migrating to a new city or want to find an easier way to rent a nest—erm, apartment—Ted will always be here to share his best advice for where to live and how to thrive.