Future Front x The LINE Austin
here, we let creativity EMERGE.
ANNUALLY, Future Front takes over The LINE hotel to amplify emerging creatives living & working in austin.
Featuring independent women & LGBTQ+ artists in 2024, 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 2024 art SHOWS
east gallery Installation: Hug, featuring artworks by Laree Evelyn (Hard Shapes)
All hard shapes and soft feelings, Hug is an ode to gentle hope—a reminder that nothing’s quite as it seems.
Featuring works on canvas and wood by Austin-based artist Laree Evelyn (also known as Hard Shapes), each painting uses geometry and thoughtful primary colors to explore the duality of life, as well as the rituals and mindsets that get us through.
Pairing inverted shapes like loving (or questioning) partners, Evelyn asks the viewer to challenge reality, to try on new perspectives. Is that a line in the sand or an open door? A boxed-in square or a stepping stone? A circle or a portal?
Through every harsh line, washed in vibrant color, Evelyn reveals that what may seem permanent often only requires more time, more information, fresh eyes or even a new shape.
"In the stillness of isolation, everything I had been running from caught up with me. All of the memories and emotions I had carefully avoided showed up all at once. Overwhelmed, I started painting giant shapes. Moving the shapes around until there was calmness. Placing them in benign order, letting that place inside me that had no words speak to my eyes, in our own brutal and bright language.
Now I use that language to tell stories of growth and healing in all its messy brilliance. Thank you so much for sharing in these shapes with me." - Laree Evelyn (Hard Shapes)
HardShapes (she/they) uses a language of colors and shapes to translate the world around and inside of them. Bold, bright, and intentional, they specialize in large-scale commissions and murals.
For sale inquiries, please contact hello@futurefronttexas.org.
EMERGE 2024 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.
SUPERMCN4STY
Supermcn4sty, privately known as Dante (he/they), is an open format DJ and producer based in Austin, Texas. Dante began perfecting his craft in 2017 within a few years time his experience has expanded to spinning at the hottest bars and nightclubs throughout Texas, weddings, private events, holding radio and club residencies such as Love Theory (2023), SZR (2022-2023), and Slow Jams Sunday (2021). To debuting in 2022 at Boiler Room in Houston, Texas, playing at music festivals such as SXSW in 2019, 2022, 2023, and 2024 as an official artist and organizing successful benefit events for local/national non profits such as Creative Action ATX, Communities United Against Police Brutality, and Austin Black Pride. With Supermcn4sty as your sound selector—whether it’s variations of underground club music, house, dance, hip hop, r&b, dancehall, variations of latin or any genre—expect precision, musical exploration, and an unbeatable energy/sound.
HIERBA MALITA
Houston-native Luya Moreno aka Hierba Malita (they/she) is a queer Latinx multi-disciplinary creative who DJs open-format style with influences ranging from Hip Hop, R&B to Baile Funk, Dembow, Soulful House, Jazzy Spiritual and more. It's about "having fun and sharing the moment with those who resonate with you."
Hierba Malita is the founder of the Latina-led creative collective Flwrpot.Co, where the goal is to build communities and nurture artists' growth, with a heavy emphasis on those who are BIPOC and Queer. Luya is also an art educator for Austin's youth, working with the Mexic-Arte Museum to teach students how to design and screen print their own shirts.YKTV! Growth, Love, Creativity, Authenticity and Community. AMEN!
DJ FAIRY ARIES
DJ FAIRY ARIES (she/they) is a DJ based in Austin, Texas. “Frolic with the last Austin Native. Let's keep Austin lit of our records.”
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.
strawberry jams
Strawberry Jams (she/her) is made up of duo Veronica Luna and Alyssa Bunting who have a collective 10 years of vinyl DJ experience. Strawberry Jams plays an array of music from country to psychedelic rock and curate music selections based off their environment and theme. Strawberry Jams does not tolerate environments of bigotry, sexism or racism and will not perform in an environment that jeopardizes the quality of our records.
DJ KICKIT
DJ KICKIT (she/her) is an energetic open-format female DJ from Austin, Texas. Born in Mexico, DJ KICKIT has a strong-rooted background in Latino culture and pride. Her mixing style of blending classic hip-hop, funk, and Latino favorites has been recognized throughout the country. She continues performing throughout Austin, Texas including the Austin City Limits Festival, and was recently awarded a Proclamation by the City of Austin, declaring May 17th as “DJ KICKIT Day.” Lastly, DJ KICKIT launched a podcast discussing topics within the DJ community entitled Scratch Theory of Tejas. From Austin to New York & Miami, and across the globe, you can’t miss a chance to dance to KICKIT’s music selection of badass beats.
knstalgia
Gianna aka Gia aka knstalgia (she/they) is Bay Area born-and-raised, currently based in Austin, Texas. Growing up in the Bay Area, they were blessed from a young age to be surrounded by R&B, West Coast Hip-Hop, Rap, as well as Electronic/House music from her family, friends and culture around me. She has a deep love for music, community, expression and blending different worlds together and making sure everyone in the room feels empowered with one another.
DJ VIOLETA
Violeta Új aka Resident Psychic (she/her) is an artist from Cancun, Mexico, who—inspired by everything from Björk to Ivy Queen—believes music is a conduit for creation and a tool for self-discovery.
Outside of DJing, she also works freelance as an Art Director and Set Designer.
To attend a Swim Session and learn more about each DJ, get details at futurefronttexas.org/comethrough.
Since 2017, The Line Hotel Austin’s Emerge Program has amplified 160+ Future Front creatives with more than lip service.
Through strategic collaborations in the lobby, community swims on the hotel’s pool deck and support for The Front Festival, the program has generated $75,000+ in support for independent creatives and collectives. That’s real sweet.