5 Famous Creatives of Austin
Austin is a city rich with artistry. From vivid street murals to impressive museums, to its world-famous live music scene; there’s something for everyone in the bustling capitol city.
As consumers of art, it’s easy to overlook the people behind the scenes. Read on to discover the lives and work of five creative minds who call Austin, Texas home.
Willie Nelson
A true son of Texas, Willie Nelson was born in the city of Abbott on April 29th, 1933. Nelson is a globally-acclaimed singer and songwriter whose work often reflects the nuances and charms of Texan life. Wilson penned his first song at the young age of seven, and made a living as a bible salesman prior to the launch of his music career.
In 1993, Willie Nelson was inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame. 2011 saw his induction into the National Agricultural Hall of Fame, for his lifelong support of family-owned farms. Nelson has called Austin home since his retirement in 1972, and in 2010 the Austin City Council renamed Second Street as “Willie Nelson Blvd” in his honor. A bronze statue of the beloved musician can be found on display there as well.
‘O Henry
‘O Henry was born as William Sydney Porter on September 11th, 1862 in Greensboro, North Carolina. Porter was a famed American short-story author who wrote under the moniker of ‘O Henry throughout most of his career. His other pennames included S.H. Peters, T.B. Dows, James L. Bliss and Howard Clark.
During his teen years, Porter worked for his uncle at a family-owned medicine shop. He obtained his pharmacist’s license in 1881 and moved to Austin a short time later, where he worked a number of jobs including as a bank teller and journalist. It was around this time that Porter began writing short stories as a hobby.
Porter is credited for coining the term “banana republic” in his piece Cabbages and Kings. He is perhaps best-known for his Christmas-themed story entitled The Gift of the Magi. He wrote over 380 short stories over the course of his career. His work was known for its clever plot points and surprise endings.
Mike Judge
Mike Judge is an American animator, writer and musician who has called Austin home for more than 30 years. He is best known for his animated series Beavis and Butt-Head, and his work as co-creator on the animated series King of the Hill.
Judge was born on October 17th, 1962 in Guyacquill, Equador. He graduated in 1985 with a degree in physics from the University of California, and worked as an engineer before a visit to a Dallas animation festival sparked his interest in the medium. Judge began sending short animations to various networks during the early 1990s, eventually launching a full-time career as an animator and showrunner.
Mike Judge is a winner of the Golden Globe and Emmy Award, and was honored at SXSW in 2014 for Best Episodic Series.
Stephen Harrigan
Stephen Harrigan is a journalist, screenwriter and historian who specializes in works highlighting the history of the Lone Star State. He is well known for his bestselling book: The Gates of the Alamo.
Harrigan has published a total of twelve books, including Remember Ben Clayton and Big Wonderful Thing: praised as a clever and comprehensive look at the colorful tapestry of Texan history, spanning from prehistoric times to the modern day. Harrigan is also a contributor to the Texas Monthly, with additional pieces appearing in publications such as The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Audubon and National Geographic.
Harrigan resides in Austin and spent 20 years at his alma mater of UT as an instructor at the Texas James A. Michener Center for Writers. He has won a number of awards and accolades throughout his career, including the Texas Book Festival’s Texas Writers Award, the Texas Medal of Arts Award, and induction into the Texas Literary Hall of Fame.
Katherine Anne Porter
Katherine Anne Porter was born in Indian Creek, Texas on May 15th, 1890. She was an American journalist, novelist and political activist, and sought to give voice to Americans whose struggles often remained in the shadows. Her book entitled Ship of Fools was Porter’s only full-length novel, but her numerous short stories received wide critical acclaim as well. Porter’s short stories were praised for achieving depth of character and a richness of world-building normally only found in long-form works.
Katherine Porter’s anthology entitled Collection of Short Stories was awarded the National Book Award and the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1965. In 1990, Brown County, Texas was registered as a Texas Historic Landmark to commemorate the life and work of Porter. She is laid to rest beside her mother at Indian Creek Cemetery in Texas.
Beat the boredom of lockdown and check out the works of these great Austin artists!
Visit the Texas State Capitol if you’re interested in seeing impressive historical monuments.
