“‘The Studs’ are my fantasy – my first act as creator of beautifully askew men” – Austin Call
Emerging fine artist Austin Call is excited to announce his first ever independent Art Basel show taking place in Miami at the citizenM Miami Worldcenter between 6-9pm on December 4th, 2024.
Call, who has built a huge profile on social media via his namesake @duhrivative and thanks to his work with various celebrity-inspired art pieces and a loyal fan following of collectors – is excited to host an activation that will feature a series of alluring, distorted cowboys under Austin Call’s signature style of mixed media.
“The Studs” by Austin Call is a provocative reimagining of the classic cowboy through a radically queer lens. This collection of 10 pieces reimagines a classic Western archetype challenging the traditional narratives and exploring the complex terrain of masculinity.
“The Studs” are strikingly rich portraits with irreverent proportions and bold features that demand attention. The series inhabit a dreamlike space where the familiar iconography of the American West is disrupted and reconfigured, inviting viewers to question their own perceptions and embrace the beauty of the unconventional. Employing untraditional and obscure collage methods that reference the raw energy of wheat pasting, Call layers fragments of digitally-altered found photographs and ephemera to create a rich and textured visual language.
This thought-provoking series is not only meant to make your eyes widen, but each piece is a testament to Austin Call’s singular vision and asserts Call as an emerging artist in the contemporary art scene.
This is Austin’s second rodeo with citizenM, having been the winner of an art competition in 2023, with his works now featured in several rooms in the Miami properties.
“We love Austin’s boldness and ability to unapologetically call out the features and character of his subjects. Whether a Miami scene or special portraits – his art is always filled with his sense of humor, a level of rawness and pop that we love to bring to life in our equally bold hotel interiors. citizenM hotels bring the color, the people, the home away from home, while our artists bring a point of view – they ignite local culture. We look forward to seeing Austin’s upcoming collection at our citizenM Miami Worldcenter hotel for this year’s Miami Art Week,” says Floor Haverkamp Curator and Art Collection Manager citizenM.
TELETUBBIES COLLABORATION
As part of the exhibition, Call is also teaming up with WildBrain’s Teletubbies, creating a series of four unique pieces featuring the iconic Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po. This is the second time Call has created beautiful and distorted images of the beloved characters following their artistic debut at the Teletubbies Art Takeover in London in September.
“This Teletubbies collaboration came at a perfect time. From London to Miami, I’ve loved adding my signature style to the Teletubbies world. It’s been an honor at this point in my career, as a millennial artist, and a child of the 90s raised alongside the Teletubbies, to be reimagining these characters creatively. Working with a brand that celebrates ‘belonging’, is super colorful and eclectic in the best ways, is open to community and supportive of artists, is very special and one to be cherished,” says Austin Call.
Art Basel is the latest stop on the House of Teletubbies world tour which celebrates music, fashion, belonging and art. The tour sees the Teletubbies partnering with internationally acclaimed and emerging artists across mediums with new artists and fresh interpretations added to the collection at each new location, ensuring a constantly evolving experience that keeps fans engaged and inspired.
“Our House of Teletubbies world tour celebrates the timeless connection of art and heritage, reminding us that the creativity we held as children never fades, it merely evolves. It’s about more than just nostalgia; it’s about bridging the gap between generations, using art as a medium to celebrate wonder and discovery,” adds Melissa Goodrich, Director of Franchise Management at WildBrain. “The Teletubbies are the perfect muses for reinvention through art, and partnering with Austin Call for his interpretation, with his bold artistic vision and celebration of each individual personality, has brought Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po to life in ways never seen before.”
About The Teletubbies
For over 27 years, WildBrainʼs Teletubbies have been engaging and entertaining audiences across multiple generations. Seen on broadcasters and streaming platforms around the world—including a re-imagined live-action Netflix series featuring narrator Tituss Burgess (Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt) and the CG-animated YouTube series, Teletubbies Letʼs Go! —the Teletubbies offer hours of content for fans of every age. Through their exuberance and curiosity, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po foster the developing imaginations of toddlers in a delightful world filled with joyous exploration, visual anticipation and silly surprises. Extensive activations and digital touch points have also seen the Teletubbies become beloved pop culture icons for older fans, adored by celebrities and culture setters around the world, with millions of followers on social media. As a lifestyle brand, Teletubbies continues to captivate audiences by participating in pop culture conversations. The Teletubbies are owned by WildBrain, a global leader in kids and family entertainment. Follow the Teletubbies on Tik Tok TikTok and Instagram via @TeletubbiesHQ.
About citizenM
citizenM was launched in 2008 with a purpose – to disrupt the traditional, stale hotel industry. Rattan Chadha – the founder of the global fashion brand Mexx – was inspired by his employees to create a hotel for today’s frequent travellers, giving them everything they need and nothing they don’t. This means central locations in the world’s most exciting cities, but at an affordable price. Not just a place to sleep, but somewhere to work, relax and play – just like home. Somewhere with superfast free Wi-Fi, tech that makes life easy, and world-class art that isn’t ‘hotel art’. A room with an ultra-comfortable XL bed to crash in, and a powerful rain shower to wake-up in. Rattan Chadha called this ‘affordable luxury for the people’. The first citizenM opened at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport in 2008. As of November 2024, citizenM’s portfolio has 36 hotels in 21 exciting cities: London, Glasgow, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Paris, Copenhagen, Rome, Zurich, Geneva, New York, Los Angeles, Miami, Austin, Boston, Seattle, San Francisco, Washington DC, Chicago, Menlo Park, Taipei and Kuala Lumpur.
