West Chelsea Contemporary gallery now open in Austin, TX

On November 7, 2020, West Chelsea Contemporary opened its newly renovated gallery space to the public with the exhibit “Concrete to Canvas” featuring the biggest names in street art. With almost 8,000-square-feet of exhibition space, “Concrete to Canvas” is a celebration of graffiti, street art and the artists born of these movements.

The exhibition was a rare opportunity to see and collect internationally recognized artists. The show included an original painting by Banksy and a Basquiat print, two art legends whose work has never been shown in Austin.

Russell Collection Fine Art becomes West Chelsea Contemporary

Formerly Russell Collection Fine Art, West Chelsea Contemporary is located in the heart of downtown Austin at 1009 W 6th St. Open to all at no charge. the gallery is eager to continue to provide Austinites and visitors alike with museum quality art — now through a completely contemporary lens

A city known for its murals (think Daniel Johnston’s ‘hi, how are you?,’ SoCo’s ‘i love you so much,’ or the city’s largest, newest wall by Shepard Fairey), Austin is an ideal setting to showcase this significant collection—one that’s relevant and representative of today’s cultural undercurrents and social landscape. 

“With the opening of ‘Concrete to Canvas,’ our gallery seeks to welcome all to see this unparalleled collection of street art by the most provocative creators in the world,” said Lisa Russell, owner of West Chelsea Contemporary. “It’s our hope with this show and beyond to continue to elevate Austin as a destination for contemporary art offering the type of work not seen outside of LA or New York.” 

Graffiti, once considered an inferior art form (albeit still illegal), has run seemingly counter to today’s international art market. However, some of the biggest art stars in today’s market started their career creating on the street. Artists like Keith Haring, Kenny Scharf, Banksy, KAWS, and Jean-Michel Basquiat, all current auction house darlings, are household names whose practice has transitioned from sides of buildings to studios. They, like many street artists, work across a range of techniques—embracing everything from traditional media, such as painting and print, to exploring new mediums, like vinyl toys. 

Gallery visitors will discover the WCC Gift Shop featuring items for the art enthusiast and art collector alike. The store makes art accessible to all—complete with KAWS companions, Keith Haring Bearbricks, and Kusama pumpkins, as well as art books covering Alex Katz, Takashi Murakami, and more. Smaller art tokens such as magnets, toys, mugs, and tea towels highlight artists ranging from David Shrigley to the Guerilla Girls. 

Gallery hours are Monday – Thursday from 10-6, late on Fridays from 10-8, Saturdays from 10-6, and Sundays from 12-6.