Austin Cole
These little alien characters mean everything to me. I’ve always been someone who dives into different mediums, and enjoys trying new things. Using the aliens as a throughline across my work gives cohesion to what can sometimes feel like an overwhelming amount of creative energy. This project gives my experiences a sense of purpose, keeps me focused and out of trouble, connects me with community, and brings me joy. I love creating, and I feel lucky every day to be able to do it.
Austin Cole is a stop motion filmmaker and visual artist from Colorado, drawn to visual storytelling from a young age. They began making stop-motion films with toys and LEGO sets, later expanding into painting, sculpture, embroidery, and other handmade works. Born with a congenital heart defect, Austin has navigated numerous surgeries and health challenges, experiences that have shaped their creative perspective and deepened their appreciation for life, connection, and the beauty in imperfection. Their debut stop-motion short film Solar Neighbor was crafted entirely by hand over several years, exploring themes of community, caretaking, hope, and loss. For Austin, art is a way to process their experiences and turn them into something that brings them and hopefully others joy as well.
Austin Cole