My name is Augustine Chavez. In the Spring of 2020, I received my MFA at the University of Texas at San Antonio. In the spring of 2017, I received my BFA from Texas State University. I have always had a passion for painting, and for many years, my work always felt as if something was missing. I worked for many years in a factory in San Marcos, Texas. In 2006, I decided to attend Austin Community College with an interest in Engineering to climb up the latter at my job. But one night, I walked past a drawing class. I had never seen a drawing class, and when I stepped in, every part of my body came alive. It was then that I decided to study Art. Working full-time, I took evening courses, and in the fall of 2013, I earned my Associates Degree in Art from Austin Community College in Austin, Texas. During that time, I had some shows in Austin Art Space and was part of a Majors Art Show at Austin Community College. In the spring of 2014, I transferred to Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and in the summer of 2014. In 2015, I left my day job and became a full-time student at Texas State University. This was not an easy decision to make because I was a single parent. On August 5th, 2016, my painting “The Wall” was in a political art competition at Touchstone Gallery in Washington D.C. My painting won 1st place out of 400 national artist and was featured in the Washington Post. My research consist of focusing on my people and try to give them a chair at the table of society through art. I am interested in searching my indigenous roots and my ancestors. For many years, my life consisted in a routine constantly daydreaming. Now that I have dedicated and given my life to art, I can not stop smiling and I stopped daydreaming.
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