Future Front x The LINE Austin
✰ here, we let creativity EMERGE.
Each year, Future Front takes over The LINE Austin to amplify emerging creatives living and working near the hotel. Featuring 18 independent women & LGBTQ+ artists in 2023, consider these installations a love note to their work—and an introduction to the city we call home.
Scroll & click on the images below to learn each artist’s story and support their work.
EMERGE 2023 art installations
Lobby Installation: Works by Molly Margaret Sydnor
An exploration of maximalism and queer joy, thanks to our collaboration with Dallas-based artist Molly Sydnor.
Molly Margaret Sydnor (b. 1993) is a Dallas-based multidisciplinary fine artist with an eye for fiber. She received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art in 2015.
Originally brought to Dallas for a career in product development specializing in interiors, textile, and rug design, Sydnor has traded in her 6-year corporate career to creative marketing for non profits.
She is an advocate for adults with disabilities, and has transitioned her professional career to focus on DEIB&A. Molly runs Local Queer Collective and her work can be found locally in Austin at The Little Gay Shop or in Dallas at Sweet Tooth Hotel.
2nd Floor Installation: Hot, Texas Summer
A testament to Future Front’s vibrant artist community and the multicultural roots of Texas art, featuring works by women artists in Future Front’s Residency: Chantal Lesley, Steph Granillo, Tumi Adeleye, Tanya Zal, Darcie Book, Calder Kamin & Ani Bradberry.
Learn more about this installation’s Austin-based artists (in order of appearance L to R in image):
Ani Bradberry, a light artist creating sculptural situations with rare gas plasma
Tumi Adeleye, first-gen Nigerian-American artist, blending visual storytelling, photography and surrealism
Calder Kamin, an artist and educator transforming trash into creatures
Darcie Book, multidisciplinary artist exploring paint as object and architecture
Chantal Lesley, conceptual photographer, born and raised on Texas’ Rio Grande Valley border, exploring multiculturalism and identity
Steph Granillo, a craft quilter, exploring sustainable textiles, fabric heirlooms and cultural context
Tanya Zal, ceramicist exploring celebration, surrealism and color through vessels
To purchase pieces within these installations, please contact hello@futurefronttexas.org or contact the artists directly.
EMERGE 2023 DJs
As part of EMERGE, Future Front and The LINE Austin present an annual series of monthly Swim Sessions, from June to September, featuring women and LGBTQ+ DJs and producers on the hotel’s pool deck.
Lavender Thug
Lavender Thug (she/her) is a host, DJ, curator and drag artist from El Paso, Texas. She recently moved to Austin to pursue entertaining and art full-time, now holding residencies and throwing parties at Coconut Club, Neon Grotto, and Cheer Up Charlie’s. You can find her everywhere @lavenderthug.
Ecco (Dreams)
Ecco (they/them) is a non-binary black House DJ, located in Austin Texas. Artistically, they go by Dreams, playing house, deep house, minimal deep tech and melodic house. Over the years, they have played at Neon Grotto, Coconut Club and Cuatro Gato, Club Eternal, pretty things, Cosmic Connection Festival, lo hi bar, private events and various markets. They've also held two residencies with Shared Frequencies, an artist-run radio station, as well as Hong Kong Community Radio. They recently started a party series, BLKRAVECULTURE, that focuses on providing monthly parties, curated for Black people by Black people. You can find them everywhere at @eccothedreamer.
Suxxy Puxxy (Perreo Club)
Sussie Ramirez (she/her) better known as Suxxy Puxxy is a promoter, manager and DJ from Monterrey, Nuevo León. Suxxy (like her friends call her) started working in the underground party scene in Monterrey. Helped produce events with local artist focused in bringing international talent in town. That's how she met Peligrosa the Austin multidisciplinary Latin collective. She started to work with them by planning a tour around California in summer 2018 and then working in a series of releases for Discos Peligrosa which lead her to leave her hometown and move to Texas. Peligrosa members took her hand to start a new journey of her life which was the beginning of her Djing.
Between a mix of her melancholy of missing home and her passion for reggaeton, she started to throw Perreo parties, but what really set her aside was her way of mixing. After the pandemic, she officially launched Perreo Club, an inclusive Latinx party based in Texas celebrating the culture of Reggaeton & Perreo. You can find her at @perreo.club.
Clancy Jones
Clancy Jones (she/her) is interested in the application of sound and movement to explore the poetics and cultural parallels of dance culture as a revolutionary act of joy. Her dj work is akin to the work of translation. Often focused on the communicative inputs and outputs between mechanical languages and our human hardwares. She was born in Cali, Colombia, raised in Queens, New York and is currently based in Austin, Texas. Her sound reflects the intersections of her placehood in these landscapes and her identity as an immigrant woman. You can find her at @forty1flip.
Dreamchild
Austin-based DJ Dreamchild (she/her) was raised by funk, jazz, and soul music, listening nonstop to artists like Earth, Wind & Fire and Stevie Wonder. While growing up in Los Angeles, she filled her library with hip-hop, rock, reggae, and electronic music, inspired by the city's skate, surf, and rave cultures. She blends these influences together in energetic, bass-heavy sets that make listeners feel good and groove. You can find her at @dreamchildmixes.
DJ Veneer
Mikaela Rodriquez (she/her), known as Dj Veneer, is a queer disabled producer from Austin, born and raised in South Texas. Her production is inspired by early electronic pioneers like Aphex Twin and Oval while also drawing from classic Chicago House. Mikaela creates music as a form of cathartic release and to share the joy of sound and movement. She's critical of the paradigm of artist as commodity accelerated by social media. She has a day job as a technical writer — to keep the lights on. You can find her at @djveneer.
To attend a Swim Session and learn more about each DJ, get details at futurefronttexas.org/comethrough.
EMERGE 2023 POP-UP SHOPS
As part of EMERGE, Future Front and The LINE Austin present an annual series of monthly Pop-Up Shops, from June to September, featuring women and LGBTQ+ creatives and independent makers in the hotel lobby.
Terre Gaillarde
Founded by Amanda Nwobu (pictured), Terre Gaillarde is a fragrance concept shop with scents from origins near and far. We center aromatic artists who are inspired by their sense of home, heritage, and lived experiences. Through our curation, we aspire to connect indie fragrances that broaden and reclaim olfactory narratives with people who use scent to enhance the joy, peace, & reverence in the spaces they occupy.
Tak Tak
Founded by multidisciplinary artist and glassblower Risa Recio, Tak Tak began over a Friendsgiving dinner in Chicago in 2018. Their dream is to make glass more accessible for folks everywhere—and they hope these tabletop companions bring joy, humor and magic to your daily ritual.
MKLFRIED
Mikaela Friedman (she/her) AKA MKLFRIED is a multidisciplinary artist based in Austin, Texas. Beyond creating hand-painted boots for customers and collaborations alike, Mikaela works on multiple creative community projects, including MUTINY MARKET and the Slow Fashion Fest.
Allegory Handmade
Iris Rylander (she/her) is a multimedia artist based in Austin, Texas. She draws inspiration from the line work of tattoo artists, pen and ink drawings, and other printmakers. She believes the placement of a single line can define or destroy her work and is fascinated with the control and attention to detail that these works require. Iris often portrays elements of nature in her work. She has worked under several local artists based in Austin. Her latest body of work is a series of linoleum prints under the name Allegory Handmade. She is part of Contracommon, an art collective and nonprofit organization that supports emerging artists.
Chiquitas Clay
Founded by artist and designer Melissa Santos (she/her), Chiquita’s Clay is a Latina owned brand that specializes in handmade polymer Clay Accessories, apparel, and trendy home decor.
Wavyroller
Victoria (she/her), creator behind Wavy Roller, is a self-taught artist residing in Austin, Texas. Her art explores both connection and lack of connection that is within self & her own traumas, others, and nature through her paintings.
Sister-2-Sister Vintage
Sister-2-Sister Vintage is a second-hand vintage shop curated by sisters, celebrating sisterhood & creating a better world thru sustainable fashion.
”We offer a range of eclectic styles for every style of sister!”
Clayhouse Candles
Started by independent artist and designer Tai (she/her), Clay House Candles was born out of wanting to create candles that are truly one-of-a-kind.
“A lot of our creative process involves thinking "Why not?" and testing some of our most playful ideas, even when they seem impossible. All of our candles are hand-poured and packaged here in the U.S. as well as being vegan, Non-GMO, and Kosher friendly.”