9 Exhibitions Bringing Art Closer to Austin Inhabitants This May

From touchable installations to narrative textile artworks, Austin is showcasing a myriad of mediums, techniques, and themes in the realm of art this month. Artists are exploring themes of identity, community, and storytelling, offering a space for reflection and dialogue.

Almost Real Things 40+ Artists: Touch the Art — through May 19

An immersive “Touch the Art” experience by Almost Real Things makes art more interactive by encouraging visitors to engage with touchable pieces from over 40 artists. Notable contributors include Allison Lash, Brandon Dudley, Charissa Hearon, and collaborators from the Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired.

Jan Heaton: Found. Beauty Observed at Davis Gallery — through May 25

Jan Heaton’s watercolor paintings unravel stories that create emotional connections with viewers. Informed by personal experiences and her quest for natural beauty, Heaton offers her interpretation of beauty to the viewer.

Priscilla Robinson: Wondrous World at Wally Workman Gallery — May 4 through May 20

Priscilla Robinson’s “Wondrous World” features interpretations of seasons, growth, and the rebirth of light. Her artwork, which exists between sculpture and painting, captures nature’s fragile beauty through her usage of various materials and mediums.

Karl Haendel: Love and Capital at Lora Reynolds Gallery — through June 1

Exploring the complexities of American masculinity through photorealistic graphite drawings, Karl Haendel’s exhibition “Love and Capital” addresses cultural, political, and historical contradictions. He encourages viewers to reconsider their perceptions and assumptions about American masculinity.

Bernie Diaz: Paper Trails at Julia C. Butridge Gallery — through June 1

Bernie Diaz’s “Paper Trails” exhibition explores the concepts of identity and memory through fragmented arrangements. He presents his journey of identity formation as a border-dwelling, queer Tejano.

Ditte Sørensen: Threads, the Elusive & Feminine at Unchained Art Contemporary Gallery — through June 2

Ditte Sørensen’s first solo exhibition in the US is a blend of traditional textile techniques and contemporary visions. The audience is invited to experience her intricate world where every thread weaves a narrative of the elusive and feminine.

Hunt Slonem: The World of Hunt Slonem at West Chelsea Contemporary — through June 3

Known for his neo-expressionist style, Hunt Slonem presents The World of Hunt Slonem, blending the fantastic, the spiritual, and the natural through his exuberant use of color.

Jeffrey Dell: Tidal Waive at Flatbed Contemporary — through June 8

Jeffrey Dell mesmerizes viewers with his two-way exploration between the three-dimensional and the two-dimensional through his new series, Tidal Waive.

Marie Watt: Sky Dances Light at Blanton Museum of Art — through August 20

Marie Watt’s Sky Dances Light explores history, community, and storytelling through the legacies of Indigenous teachings. In this exhibition, Watt draws on the bonds across generations and cultures.

These exhibitions portend a fantastic season of transformative expressions in the Austin art scene, bringing a world of engaging, approachable art to the Austinites.