About
Jason Archer is an American visual artist and a driving force in Austin’s contemporary art scene. Blending Pop Art with cultural archetypes, his work creates modern myths that reimagine history, ritual, and natural phenomena through a distinctly Texas lens.
Working across disciplines as a director, animator, painter, and muralist, Archer’s practice spans solo exhibitions, collaborative projects, commissioned works, and large-scale commercial partnerships.
Archer’s work often incorporates political satire and iconic, Texas-inspired characters such as Jesus Cornbread & the Alcoholics and Stray of the Dead. His early career in animation earned him both a Grammy and an MTV Video of the Year Award for directing and animating Frijolero, a music video for the Mexican rock band Molotov. In 2019, he contributed animation work to Amazon’s Emmy-nominated series Undone. From 2011–2018, he helped reignite Austin’s mural culture as the producer and curator of Frank Public Art.
He is the co-owner of Show Goat Mural Works, a mural company specializing in the design and installation of large-scale indoor and outdoor works, with projects including Austin FC’s Q2 Stadium, the Moody Center, the Contemporary Austin, Ottine Mineral Springs, and ongoing collaborations with the Hi, How Are You Project to preserve and expand the legacy of Daniel Johnston.
In addition to his public and commercial work, Archer has participated in numerous art shows, exhibitions, and cultural events including Austin City Limits, Chelsea Market, Chianti Weekend, SXSW, and the inaugural Pop Austin International Art Show. He is also the curator of Preacher Gallery, a contemporary art gallery in Austin, Texas, where he continues to champion emerging and established artists and foster creative culture and community.
CV
Solo Exhibitions
2014 – Cornbread is King, Chinati Weekend, Marfa, Tx
2011 – The Marfa Mashup, Chinati Weekend, Marfa, Tx
Two Man Exhibitions
2006 – Archer$Beck, Gallery Lombardi, Austin, Tx
2004 – Code Red Cotillion, Gray Matters Gallery, Dallas, Tx
2003 – Paul Beck is Dead, Gallery 1313, Austin, Tx
2002 – The State of the Union, Science 102, Austin, Tx
Group Exhibitions
2015 – Preaching Not Preaching, Preacher Gallery, Austin, Tx
2014 – Pop Austin International Art Show, Fair Market, Austin, Tx
2012 – Customized Clones, Diana World Tour
2012 – WEST Austin Studio Tour, Butterscotch Gardens, Austin, Tx
2011 – Candy Cornbread, Gray Duck Gallery, Austin, Tx
2011 – Texas Biennial, Gallery I & II Texas State University, San Marcos, Tx
2011 – Fade In: Collection of Animations, Visual Arts Center, Austin, Tx
2010 – Mediations Biennale/Erased Walls, Freies Museum, Berlin, Germany
2006 – And Justice for All?, Gallery Lombardi, Austin, Tx
2005 – That Uncomfortable Place Between Beginning & Ending, Cinemascope, Southampton, NY
2004 – Strangers in Dialogue, 500x, Dallas, Tx
2003 – Select Media/Cultural Counterintelligence, Heaven Gallery, Chicago, Il
Feature Films
2011 – Far Marfa, Shot Through Films, Animator
2006 – A Scanner Darkly, Warner Independent Pictures, Head of Animation
2001 – Waking Life, Fox Searchlight Pictures, Animator
Short Films
2007 – Cough, Cold and High Fever, Live Earth Film Commission, Director/Animator
2004 – Clean Sweep, The Greathouse Incubator, Director/Animator
2003 – The Homeland Hodown, The Greathouse Incubator, Director/Animator
2002 – The State of the Union, The Greathouse Incubator, Director/Animator
Videography
2008 – Guacala Que Rico, Molotov, Director/Animator
2008 – IEIEIEIE, White Denim, Director/Animator
2004 – La Paga remix, Juanes with the Black Eyed-Peas, Director/Animator
2003 – Hit Me, Molotov, Director/Animator
2003 – Frijolero, Molotov, Director/Animator
2002 – The Great Intoxication, David Byrne, Director/Animator
Documentary
2009 – The Eyes of Me, PBS, Head of Animation
Education
The University of Texas at Austin, School of Communications
Awards
2003 – Grammy Winner, Best Music Video, Frijolero
2003 – MTV VMA Winner, Video of the Year, Frijolero
Nominations
2011 – Emmy Nominee, Outstanding Art Direction and Design, The Eyes of Me
2004 – Grammy Nominee, Best Music Video, Hit Me
2004 – MTV VMA Nominee, Video of the Year, Hit Me
Conservatorium Installation - 2014
Pop Austin International Art Show - 2014
Chinati Weekend - 2011
Guacala Que Rico video shoot - 2008
2003 Grammy Awards with Kathee Schneider & Paul Beck