A Music Mega Star, Fast Cars and Pop Art

This Supersized Austin Event Has It All

By Catherine D. Anspon // Oct 10, 2015

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Elton John is headed to Austin. (Photo by Marc Caulfield)

In its second iteration, Pop Austin literally illuminates the city October 22 through 25. Expect a new-century take on the concepts of gallery show, museum exhibition and art fair, yielding an immersive experience with works available for acquisition. PaperCity steps up as a media sponsor this year as well.

Returning to the ample spaces of Fair Market pavilion, Pop Austin invokes the theme of “Illumination,” in keeping with the U.N. designation of 2015 as the International Year of Light.

Sixteen artists from near and far reflect red-hot currents in Europe and Asia, as well as closer to home, Manhattan, L.A. and, of course, Texas. Included in this latter category are Adela Andea of Houston and Austin notables Bale Creek Allen (son of musician/artist Terry Allen and actress/writer Jo Harvey Allen), who’s known for melding barbed wire with neon, and Yale grad/cult fave Evan Voyles. The mighty James Turrell is also in the mix, as are museum-exhibited Swiss artist Lori Hersberger and Korean-born, Berlin-based Jeongmoon Choi, who employs light and thread in her evocative environments. Nonotak studio, in from Paris (with credentials that include a gig at Tate Britain), gets it all into gear with an extraordinary light and sound spectacle at the VIP Opening Night, Thursday, October 22.

Speaking of gear, time your Austin jaunt to take advantage of Pop Austin’s partnership with Circuit of The Americas, the only facility in the U.S. specially designed for the Grand Prix. Hear the Ferraris and McLarens roar October 23 through 25, at Formula 1 United States Grand Prix at the COTA track; take in Pop Austin’s trackside pop-up show, then wrap the experience Sunday, October 25, with a performance by Elton John post-race on the festival lawn.

The forces behind this art and motor extravaganza? Pop Austin’s co-founders are international power couple Steve and Lana Carlson — his background is song-writing and producing, and she was the international curator who brought the first Rodin show to Russia — joined by COTA founder/chairman/promoter Bobby Epstein.

Pop Austin VIP Grand Opening, Thursday, October 22, $200; regular show days $40, three-day pass $70; info and tickets, popaustin.com. Formula 1 Grand Prix, Friday through Sunday, October 23 through 25; Sunday only from $99; three-day passes from $169; Sunday and three-day race pass both grant access to Elton’s performance; click here for more information.