Justin Burns

Justin Burns
Disjointed Wistfulness
2021
Acrylic And Airbrush On Layered Clear Dura-Lar
27 x 37 x 10 inches

Justin Burns
A Gradual Fall
2020
Airbrush On Matte Dura-Lar
37 x 48 inches

Justin Burns
Just Won't Let It Go
2017
Airbrush and acrylic on multiple layers of drualar, wood and aluminum
39 x 48 x 7 inches

Justin Burns
The Bait Shop
2020
Airbrush And Acrylic On Matte Dura-Lar
24 x 42 inches

ABOUT JUSTIN
Justin grew up in Farmers Branch, Texas and studied close to home at the University of North Texas. He earned his BFA focusing on Studio Drawing and Painting in 2013 and currently is an art educator in Tarrant County and a Golden Working Artist for Golden Artist Colors. While Justin was achieving his degree, between 2008 - 2011 he and his twin brother Jonathan were signed to Island/Def Jam/Mercury Records and traveled the United States. After his music endeavours, Justin focused back at home and began to take interest in the Burns family farm which was established in 1914 and the surrounding community of Kopperl, TX. After seeing all that's left of Kopperl, Justin wanted to visually showcase the beauty of the decay of this small town. Eventually these spaces will disappear and will become a distant memory of a time of how things used to be along with the people who hold special memories to them. These structures were designed for purpose and a force of permanence. The ruins linger as a reminder when the train used to stop in Kopperl, TX and are now headstones or a distant memory. Justin gathers stories and songs from relatives and people of the community and tries to incorporate nostalgic memories not only from within his own personal experience but also revealing the reality of what is yet to come.

My work focuses on the decaying era of a small Texas town where all that is left is the memory of a how things use to be. I begin photographing interior and exterior weathered relic structures that once were an icon, are now headstones. Eventually these spaces will disappear and will become a distant memory of a time of how things used to be as well as the people who hold special memories to them. These structures were designed for purpose and a force of permanence. The ruins linger as reminder when the train used to stop in Kopperl, TX. I gather stories and songs from relatives and people of the community and try to incorporate what Kopperl was like at its peak. As I paint, I airbrush and brush onto multiple or single transparent layers of duralar (acetate) to emphasize the depth and detail of the space while blending my own romanticized perception and abstraction from memories.