Meet Austyn de Lugo-Liston | Artist, Teacher, and Podcaster

We had the good fortune of connecting with Austyn de Lugo-Liston and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Austyn, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
When I was in my 20s, I was able to commit fully to art making. Now, in my thirties, I work full time as an art teacher and I have six children, so my schedule has obviously dramatically changed. For me, continuing my artistic career has meant shifting my focus to creative pursuits that I can fit in to my already packed schedule. I still make visual art when possible, but I have also recently started a podcast with my husband’s ex wife, where I have been able to what’s happening in my life to fuel my creative output. Instead of trying to find “balance,” I think of it as trying to find symbiosis between every part of my life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My work can take on many forms, In undergrad, I focused on painting. In graduate school, I focused on collage. After graduate school, I worked in textiles and quilting, and I have also dabbled in ceramics and installation work.

My work is always in flux, and at different points in my life, it takes on different forms that reflect both my creative interests, as well as material realities. Like all artists, my work is influenced by what materials I have access to, what the demands on my schedule are, etc. I think the key for me sustaining my practice, has been a commitment to finding practical ways to fit it into my life, and to not split my work off from other parts of my life.

Recently, as a parent, I have lost a lot of time and space in my house, so my new creative endeavor has been my podcast, Best Wives Club, which I have started with my husband’s ex wife. We are really treating it as a collaborative artwork about intimacy, family, parenting, and the politics of the domestic space.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
First of all, come at Halloween time. Halloween time in Los Angeles is like Christmas in New York. I think it’s because we are such a film city.

Catch a scary movie at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, or the Rooftop Cinema Club. Go to Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios, or take a trip down to Orange County for Knott’s Scary Farm. Give yourself a little driving tour of filming sites for spooky movies and shows—The Charmed Manor, Murder House, the Nightmare on Elm Street House, and all the houses from Halloween.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would love to shout out my friend and “wife-in-law” Amanda Johnston. Amanda has been a source of support for me and my family as we have experienced some major shifts this year, in addition to being my collaborator on my most recent creative endeavor, our podcast Best Wives Club.

Website: austyndelugo.com

Instagram: @austynshambles

Other: https://linktr.ee/bestwivesclub?fbclid=PAAaaoetPf6QOLDxoX3wSjj0RhOR8jaTlDYQcsmc0EqwWGwWt2GN5-gMU2a0s