BIOGRAPHY
Justin grew up in Farmers Branch, Texas and studied close to home at the University of North Texas. He earned his BFA focusing primarily on Studio Drawing and Painting in 2013. Before achieving a BFA, Justin and his twin brother were traveling playing music and signed a record contract to Island/Def-Jam Records in 2009. During his travels playing music, Justin experimented in painting and photography and began to gather photographs of a small community were the Burns family has a one-hundred-year old farm in Kopperl, Texas. Justin took interested in stories of the farm, community and what is physically left behind. After experiencing an apartment fire where he and his family lost everything in 2014, Justin’s work began to take a new role and meaning. His work focuses on spaces that are left as they are, weathered and abandoned fragments of a time once lived. His paintings have been exhibited in Dallas/Fort Worth and have been featured in publications such as Studio Visit Magazine and Friend of the Artist.
ABOUT THE ART
As a Texas artist, my work delves into the vanishing landscape of small-town Texas, where the echoes of a bygone era resonate through weathered relics and fading memories. Inspired by the rich tapestry of my surroundings, I am drawn to the decaying structures that once stood as icons, now reduced to mere remnants of their former glory.
Through photography, I capture the essence of these relic structures, each telling a story of a time long past. These spaces, once bustling with life, now stand as silent witnesses to the passage of time. In Kopperl, TX, where the train used to halt, I gather tales and melodies from the community, weaving them into the fabric of my art.
My creative process involves layering transparent duralar sheets, airbrushing and brushing to bring depth and detail to the spaces I depict. This technique allows me to blend my own romanticized perceptions with the stark reality of decay, evoking nostalgia while capturing the essence of small-town life.
Through my art, I aim to preserve the memory of these forgotten places, paying homage to the people and stories that once filled them with life. As the structures fade into obscurity, I seek to provoke thought on the changing dynamics of rural life and the impermanence of human existence.
Ultimately, my goal is to spark conversation, evoke emotion, and inspire viewers to see the beauty in the everyday, even amidst decay. By crafting a visual language that celebrates heritage and embraces abstraction, I invite others to connect with the essence of Texas and the universal experience of change.
