Fairs
Meet our campaign artist: B. Shawn Cox
Campaign artist B. Shawn Cox's artwork 'Pullin Back the Reins' is featured as part of our campaign for the upcoming second edition of Affordable Art Fair Austin. Read on to learn about his artistic practice.
Bella Villanueva
Wednesday 19 March, 2025
Each edition, we select an artwork to feature in our campaign. This Spring, Affordable Art Fair Austin is thrilled to have selected the vibrant and eclectic artwork titled ‘Pullin Back the Reins’ by artist B. Shawn Cox. We were lucky to have the chance to chat with Shawn about his artistic journey and where he finds inspiration for his unique style.
Shawn is a multi-talented artist with ranching roots in West Texas. Despite his heritage, he pursued degrees in Architecture and Law, leading him through various business ventures before feeling a compelling need to create. This need led him to his current artistic practice, which has been evolving for over 30 years.
About the Campaign Piece: ‘Pullin Back the Reins’
The featured artwork, ‘Pullin Back the Reins,’ is a striking acrylic on canvas piece measuring 36×36 inches. This colorful cowgirl with painted dots all around the canvas is set against a vibrant, striking blue background. The Western-inspired work resembles many of Shawn’s other pieces, as he is enamored with pop art and Western-inspired art. The piece invites viewers to explore layers of meaning and narrative, reflecting Shawn’s fascination with humor, irony, and the textures of life.
Shawn’s artistic journey
Shawn grew up in West Texas with a ranching background but always had a passion for creativity. After pursuing degrees in Architecture and Law and exploring various business ventures, he felt a compelling need to create. This led him to his current artistic practice, where he revisits and reflects on memories, perceptions, and understandings—some real, some imagined, and often distorted.
Exploring artistic practices
Shawn’s work often begins with personal or vintage found photographs, reinterpreting and sharing a moment in time. Visually, he draws inspiration from a range of sources including vintage images, advertising, architecture, magazines, 80’s pop music, and literature. He is fascinated by narratives, humor, clichés, irony, texture, and the layers of meaning that can be conveyed through color and form. He works with a mix of materials—paint, plaster, clay, and whatever else he finds around the house or orders from Amazon or eBay.
Art as expression
Although Shawn holds degrees in Architecture and Law, his art practice has been continuously evolving for over 30 years. The experience that has most influenced his work is his exploration of internal and external narratives. He seeks to visually express his motivations while gaining insights into the world and his place within it.
Upcoming exhibitions
B. Shawn Cox will be showing at Davis Gallery for his show, Tumble from May 10 – June 14, 2025. You can also keep up with Shawn on his Instagram page here.
Join us at Affordable Art Fair Austin (May 15 – 18, 2025) for a buzzing second edition and take home your next favourite piece!
