It's been a while since I've featured an artist on my blog. I'm excited to start the interviews again and thrilled that my next feature is Javier Gonzalez, a very talented photographer, artist, instafamous community builder and a very good friend of mine. We met at Texas State and bonded over our mutual love for photography, color and our Mexican roots.
Javier Gonzales is probably one of my favorite local artists at the moment. His work is full of beautiful colors and shapes that inspire and allow me to notice my more unusual surroundings. At a time when we're mostly staring down at our phones, we go through life without seeing the subtle beauties around us. Javier's work shows us those hidden moments.
Tell me a little bit about yourself.
My name is Javier Gonzalez. I was born in Mexico and raised in the United States. I currently reside in Austin, Texas. I'm the oldest in my family and the first to attend college. I graduated from Texas State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in photography. I am a community builder and father to a little kitty.
What or who got you started in photography?
I've always been inclined towards the arts and had a passion for drawing. It was through this process of capturing life through graphite that led me to photography. Growing up, I was always the family's photographer and it wasn't until I was in my second year of pre-dental that I decided to pursue a degree in photography instead. It wasn't until this major shift that I completely devoted myself to pursuing a career as an artist.
How do you describe your photography style?
I have a passion for capturing subtle moments and drawing attention to everyday things in life. My work is very minimal with a strong emphasis on color. I place my focus on simple compositions found within larger spaces.
What equipment do you use?
For most of my work done on-the-go, I use my iPhone. It's an everyday tool that is always by my side. However, for planned photography sessions I use a Canon 60D with several fixed lenses.
Can you tell us a little bit about your process?
My process begins with myself scouting places around town that spark my interest. Whether it be an old building or a colorful mural on the east side of Austin. I take down notes of these places and then plan shoots according to the space I find interesting.
What inspires you to capture such great imagery?
I'm inspired by the ability to share my vision with the rest of the world. I'm grounded in my Mexican culture and continuously influenced by my family and the spaces around me. I take moments from my daily life and build upon those, finding ways to express myself through imagery that reflect what I may be going through in life. Knowing that my photographs are appreciated by others keeps me going.
What are you working on right now?
I just finished my first solo exhibition that took place last week in Provenance Gallery in San Antonio. The exhibition will be up until March 5th. If you're interested in seeing it you can contact Provenance Gallery. Now I am focusing more on editorial work and finding ways to expand my imagery beyond 2-D surfaces.
How did you start @igaustintexas?
Once I graduated, I felt the need to be part of a creative community. During my time at school I built relationships with my fellow peers, but being back in Austin I was lacking that sense of community. Instagram offered me a place where I could connect with creatives from all across the globe and build friendships. Igaustintexas came about as a result of my longing for a creative community. We hold instameets and promote photography by featuring local Austinites on our page. I, along with my team of community builders have several plans this year. One of those plans includes a gallery show to highlight the creative folks that have joined us and have contributed to our igaustingtexas community.
