An artist from Waterloo will be showcasing his work over the next few months, with his work taking aim at the western political establishment and the greed behind it.
Austin Wilde, from Waterloo, who has lived a life most of us can only dream of, will launch his exhibition 'I Did a Baad Thing' at the Buyers Club in Liverpool on November 2. The paintings, concerning America's problem: power and money, will be displayed at the Hardman Street venue until January.
Austin designs impassioned artwork from his house, leading a comparatively quiet life to his earlier days when he worked as a talent scout in London, working with some of music's biggest names.
READ MORE: I'm absolutely heartbroken about Bill Kenwright but I wanted to share what he has done for me
READ MORE:Full guide to River of Light as it returns to Liverpool for 2023
Born in Liverpool in 1974, his family moved to Essex when he was young. The now 49-year-old described Essex as "a 'new-town' back then, like Skelmersdale. There wasn't much there in terms of creativity."
Everything changed for Austin in the early 90s, when he was around 13. Hip Hop was in full swing, prompting himself, like many other youngsters, to become part of the graffiti and urban art sub-culture, which he was involved in throughout his teens. There was just one problem: he "had no idea how to make a living from it."
He said: "To make money, I started working at a screen printers and DJing at weekends. Soon after, I got a job at an electronic dance club called Renaissance in Nottinghamshire, and later ran their first season in Ibiza."
Austin eventually made the decision to leave the nightime music scene, going to work for record company DMC, and then later starting his own label, Whoa. It was here he founded the 'Late Night Tales' compilation-album series, which is still running today. Many of the albums end with a story track, read by famous English performers including Benedict Cumberbatch, Will Self, Brian Blessed and Patrick Moore.
While running Whoa, he shared an office with Banksy's first manager, with the secretive street painter working with Austin to create artwork for another compilation series.
Ultimately selling the company, he moved to EMI Records as Creative Director, scouting talent and working with the likes of Mark Ronson and Gorillaz. During his time there he signed many successful artists, including Duffy and Beirut.
Austin moved back up north nine years ago after his father died, in order to be closer to his mum. Since being back in Liverpool, he has worked at the Philharmonic Hall and as a lecturer at LIPA. Taking the decision to resign, he now paints murals, designs logos and writes old-school signs, working from home, for himself.
He said: "I always have to be creating, and having new experiences, I can't sit around doing the same thing every day. We all need money, but it's not the most important thing."
Regarding his latest exhibit, 'I Did a Baad Thing' - which questions the bad decisions made by government men in power and in the pursuit of 'more, more, more', Austin said: "With this exhibition, I’m not trying to depict a strong dislike of America - and that’s because l adore large bits of it. I’m named after an American serviceman and, by proxy, a musical city in Texas.
"I spent my early teenage years beguiled by America’s cultural exports. This started with The Wonder Years, a TV series set in 60s & 70s Anytown U.S.A and this curiosity was subsequently cemented in parks by skateboard culture.
"Whilst painting the show, I have asked myself why I’m fixated with the near history of a foreign country? One answer is this: it’s a mind holiday for me, some time distance away from the present political situation in the country I call home. "
The exhibition is free and open to all at the Buyers Club, Hardman Street, Liverpool, L1 9AX. For more info, contact nofrescoyo@gmail.com.
Win a Tassimo My Way Machine worth £140 and enjoy your coffee shop favourite drinks at home
