Austin Neal Center was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 1973. He has always been interested in art from his early childhood ceramics in Mrs. Philips art class or wood working class with Mr. Lowe, to his most recent paintings and sculpture.

Throughout his development, he has studied from several different artist and craftsman such as George Gabb, woodcarver from Belize, and Sinclair Ashley ceramicist. These artists were major influences in leading him to study painting and art history in Florence, Italy under the tutelage of artist Jules Maidoff. Austin also studied ceramics while in Italy and created many pieces including a series of raku firings in Tuscany, as well as working with Terri-Cotta, Majolica and glazing techniques.

Since graduating from the College of Charleston, Austin has lived in New York City for six years teaching Painting, Ceramics, Drawing, and Sculpture at the Children’s Museum of the Arts. As well as having a studio in Soho where he created works that have been exhibited in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts and in many private collections. Studio.

Education: Bachelor of Arts College of Charleston Simon Center for the Arts Charleston, South Carolina; SACI Florence, Italy Studio Art Center Specialized Training: Jules Maidoff, Artist Florence, Italy; Sinclair Ashley, Ceramicist Chattanooga, Tennessee; George Gabb, Woodcarver Belize
Shows/Displayed Works: 2005 Steve and Barbie Potts Chattanooga, Tennessee “Night with the Artist”; 2005 Spoleto Charleston, South Carolina; 2005 Karpeles Museum Charleston, South Carolina “Abstraction”; 2005 Spencer Art Gallery Charleston, South Carolina Large Painting Gallery; 2004 Umbedingt Gallery Charleston, South Carolina 24 Hour Exhibit; 2003 Mitzpah Temple Auction Charleston, South Carolina; 2002 Colodero Art Gallery New Jersey; 2002 Monique Goldstrom Gallery New York; 2002 Mural “Remembering 911” New York Children’s Museum of the Arts; 2001 Hewitt School Auction New York; 2000 Baylor School Auction Chattanooga, Tennessee; 2000 “A Day with a Budding Artist" Williams Gallery Worchester Massachusetts; 1999 Inside Out, Children's Museum of the Arts, New York; 1999 Get Real Art Gallery New York; 1998 Spectrum, Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, Tennessee; 1998 “Arts on the Block” SOHO New York; 1997 Spoleto Festival, Charleston, South Carolina; 1997 Visions, Chattanooga Tennessee