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.
Artist Statment
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.
BIEKE CAMPOS
Born in 2003, Austin, Tx
Lives and works in Austin, Tx
EDUCATION
2027 BFA (pending), Texas State University, San Marcos, Tx
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023 San Marcos Art League: Connections: Texas State Student Exhibition | San Marcos, Tx
2024 Mexic-Arte Museum - Mix’N’Mash | Austin, Tx
2025 Mexic-Arte Museum -Mix’N’Mash | Austin, Tx
2025 Student Exhibition: Yesterday’s Tomorrow | Austin, Tx
2025 2324 Studios - Unbanned Show | Austin, Tx
2025 Art For the People Gallery: Of Gesture and Time | Austin, Tx
2025 Las Ofrendas - Noche De Liberación | Austin, Tx
2025 Bolm Arts - El Futuro, Tus Raices | Austin, Tx
2025 The Infrathin Artist Residency: Artist Showcase | Austin, Tx
2025 Commerce Gallery Juried Exhibition: Roots and Revivals | Lockhart, Tx
2025 Mexic-Arte Musuem- En Lo Mas Negro Del Verano | Austin, Tx
2025 Chioco Design: Chico Assembly | Austin, Tx
2025 Latino Cultural Center - Virgen De Guadalupe Art Exhibition | Dallas, Tx
2026 Mexic-arte Museum - Mix ‘n’ Mash | Austin, Tx
2026 La Peña’s 34rd Annual Fundraiser- Toma Mi Corazon | Austin, Tx
2026 MAS Cultura, Quimera Gallery - Amor Eterno | Austin, Tx
2026 TEDxUTAustion:Polaris | Austin, Tx
2026 The Check in - Raasininthesun | SXSW Austin, Tx
2026 Shaolin Jazz x Downtown Austin: Sound Patterns | SXSW Austin,Tx
2026 Juried Student Exhibition - Texas State University | San Marcos, Tx
AWARDS
2022 Best in Show: Gold Key- Scholastic Art & Writing Award
2022 Scholastic Visual Award- Scholastic Art & Writing Award
2022 Best Teen Art Annual Publication: Scholastic Art & Writing Award
2022 Premios Latinos de Aprovechamiento Académico
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2025 Mexic-Arte Museum: “Nuestro Jardin” August 25, 2025
2025 Partheymuller, Charlie. “New Canvas: local artist paints first mural” The Daily Texan, October 13, 2025
COLLECTIONS
2024 Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Residence: Room of Public Figures
2025 Mexic-Arte Museum Permanent Residence: My Living Room
2026 Estrella Mia Private Collection: Virgen De Guadalupe
RESIDENCES
2025 The Inn Between - The Infrathin Artist Residency | Concan, Tx
2025 Mexic - Arte Museum - Changarrito Residency | Austin, Tx
2026 Blue House Residency - Month of March | Austin, Tx
2026 Soho Austin x Creative Future Collective mentee | Austin, Tx
@artbybieke
camposbieke@gmail.com
artbybieke.org