Austin by renowned American artist Ellsworth Kelly is a cornerstone of the Blanton’s collection.

Completed in 2018, the 2,715-square-foot stone building features luminous colored glass windows, a totemic wood sculpture, and fourteen black and white marble panels. Titled Austin, honoring Ellsworth Kelly’s tradition of naming particular works for the places for which they are destined, the structure is the only building the artist designed, and will be his legacy.

Visiting Austin is included with museum admission. Please respect the quiet nature of the space when visiting.

Learn more about this monumental artwork by listening to the audio guide below or exploring our digital resources, including Austin In-Depth.

explore digital resources

Audio Guide

Learn more about Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin by listening to our audio guide!

Aprende más sobre Austin de Ellsworth Kelly, escuche nuestra guía de audio.

View of the entrance of Ellsworth Kelly's Austin with a blue sky above; nine rainbow squares make up a grid above two solid oak doors.
View of the west exterior wall of Ellsworth Kelly's Austin; twelve slim rainbow colored stained glass rectangles are arranged as a star burst.
Interior view of Ellsworth Kelly's Austin; the image faces the entrance at a time of day when the sun shining through the nine stained glass blocks create rainbow shadows on the wall and floor.
Evening view of the east wall of Ellsworth Kelly's Austin. The building is in shadow but the twelve stained glass square windows arranged in a circular pattern are brightly lit.
Early evening exterior wide shot of Austin by Ellsworth Kelly towards the entrance. The Perry-Castañeda Library can be seen in the distance behind the building.
Interior wall shot of Austin by Ellsworth Kelly. Three marble panels line the wall as square rainbow colored shadows drape the wall. The panel on the far left is solid black, the panel in the middle is half white on top and half black on the bottom, and the far right panel is solid white.
Midday bird's eye view shot of the entrance of Austin by Ellsworth Kelly with Jester Dormitory in the background. Two visitors are approaching door.
Image of "Ellsworth Kelly: Austin" book on the shelf facing viewer.

Take Austin home with you.

Purchase the Ellsworth Kelly: Austin book at the Blanton Museum Store. Filled with historic photographs, thought-provoking essays, and an in-depth look at the creation of the building, it’s a must have for any art fan. The hardcover version is available for purchase online from Radius Books.

Buy It ONLINE

Press Highlights

ArtForum: The Whole Truth, Harry Cooper on Ellsworth Kelly’s Austin, 2015

Forbes: Simone Wicha on Working with Artist Ellsworth Kelly on his chapel austin

T: The New York Times Style Magazine: Ellsworth Kelly’s Temple for Light

Vanity Fair: How Austin Became the Home, and Namesake, of Ellsworth Kelly’s Final Masterpiece

Credits

Gift of the artist and Jack Shear, with funding generously provided by Jeanne and Michael Klein, Judy and Charles Tate, the Scurlock Foundation, Suzanne Deal Booth and David G. Booth, and the Longhorn Network. Additional funding provided by The Brown Foundation, Inc. of Houston, Leslie and Jack S. Blanton, Jr., Elizabeth and Peter Wareing, Sally and Tom Dunning, the Lowe Foundation, The Eugene McDermott Foundation, Stedman West Foundation, and the Walton Family Foundation, with further support provided by Sarah and Ernest Butler, Buena Vista Foundation, The Ronald and Jo Carole Lauder Foundation, Emily Rauh Pulitzer, Janet and Wilson Allen, Judy and David Beck, Kelli and Eddy S. Blanton, Charles Butt, Mrs. Donald G. Fisher, Amanda and Glenn Fuhrman, Glenstone/Emily and Mitch Rales, Stephanie and David Goodman, Agnes Gund, Stacy and Joel Hock, Lora Reynolds and Quincy Lee, Helen and Chuck Schwab, Ellen and Steve Susman, and other donors.