Austin J. Eckstrom

Currently a college student at Anoka-Ramsey Community College, I plan to attend the College of Visual Arts and eventually get a MFA and teach at college level. I am a Christian and a leader of the ALIVE Creative Arts Ministry at Edinbrook Church in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. In the majority of my work I create abstract images by combining the human figure with non-representational subject matter. By using the figure in high contrast settings I hope to create imagery that has a sense of life, and evokes strong emotions from viewers. My work explores many ideas but focuses on themes of identity, and faith. I am continuously increasing my understanding of the human body, therefore strengthening my ability to successfully abstract such a complex form as the figure. In this way, I seek to generate more impactful and dramatic imagery, improving the aesthetic and conceptual quality of my work.