Bieke Campos
For the majority of my life, I’ve resided in public housing in East Austin, specifically Booker T. Washington Terrace. Historically East Austin is made up of underserved Latino and African American communities with shared struggles that are often overlooked. From a young age, I was exposed to drug and criminal activity on a consistent basis. Despite these challenges, I found healing and passion in artwork as I was influenced by the graffiti and street art in my community. My lived experiences engaging directly with the themes of poverty, displacement, and community resilience significantly impact my art and the stories I wish to tell.
The agony of poverty surrounds my community. Through artistic expression I find solace in depicting the reality and rawness of a life in poverty. The figures on canvas come to life and the stories of my community members are highlighted in brushstrokes. It is a central theme in my life and my work.
East Austin has a stigma of being unworthy, unrepresented, and mistreated. I am passionate about serving my purpose to inspire youth and uplift underserved areas. Art is a pathway for healing not only for the artist but also for the larger community. Individuals from my community are worthy, important, and visionary.
My Process
I begin my process outdoors. It starts with capturing photos of individuals within Booker T Washington, East Austin, and underserved communities. These photos serve as my foundation for the stories I paint on canvas.
Layers of spray paint help me determine color placement and shapes that develop into figures and background. Then I move indoors, starting from a loose painting I layer oil paint onto the unstretched canvas. Next, I staple the canvas onto a wall to stretch out and view the work upright. I employ the chiaroscuro technique, capturing light/dark in the early stages to get a three-dimensional figure.
As I’m working, I determine the focal point and concentrate on developing more detail in those areas to emphasize the figures and their stories. I intentionally leave some areas more abstract to represent the authenticity and rawness of the communities being represented.
My Impact
My artwork provides a voice for underserved communities and honors the resilience of these individuals. I intend to preserve the history of East Austin, highlighting the strength and adaptability developed from living in impoverished surroundings.
The stories I share are ones of struggle and shed light upon poverty. I hope to beautify unappreciated environments, to give viewers a sense of community impact, and to raise awareness about the realities of these living conditions. I aim to create work that reflects the authenticity, paint, and cultural legacy of East Austin while building meaningful connections across communities.
Since my work is deeply rooted in my own vulnerability and experience in HACA affordable housing (navigating over fifteen years of low-income living), I hope my story as an artist will inspire and elevate other individuals from my community.