Meet Anne Genung: Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Anne Genung and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, we’d love to hear what makes you happy.
Being around people that are creative & passionate about making things. I find it contagious.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am most well known for my series of Willie Nelson collages. They are made of mostly recycled materials around an aerosol stencil of Willie’s bust. I have recently started making works featuring Dolly Parton, which have been received very well and are an exciting addition for me. They have a very “paper doll’ feeling about them, as dressing up & decorating Dolly truly have no limits. It would be impossible to distract from the fact that some of my current success is because I have made literally HUNDREDS of these guys, for over ten years now, selling them throughout the state of Texas, shipping them to the other states & to Europe. But the other part should be attributed to the fact that these works are ‘multiples;’ are highly recognizable, and are all part of an enormous & ever-growing set. I make Willie Nelson art because he is our aspirational Everyman. I think of the Willies as icons or totems. He’s there for good vibes, good luck, good everything. I’m here for the good time. I’d like to think that my work reflects that as well.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
An entire week of entertaining makes me break out in hives. I have stuff to do. HERE’S MY FULLY IMAGINED BFF WEEKEND PLAN: FRIDAY BFF will meet me at my studio on Sterrett & William in the Warehouse District. We will immediately head to BLACK’S BODEGA, which is maybe the FINEST BODEGA in all of the land, where we will peruse all of our beverage options to take back to the studio for a smidge; look at new work, talk to all of my cool artist & musician neighbors. When hungry (and after 5,) we will head down the block to THEODORE REX for dinner and cocktails. If its the right season, maybe an ASTROS GAME?? Or over to 8th Wonder to see more of the area’s amazing street art and get some beers after dinner. SATURDAY BFF and I are sleeping in and then lounging in our pjs gossiping. When we finally get it together, we head to LUCE COFFEE ROASTERS on 34th & Ella for what is a seriously great cup of coffee. Then its off to PLOUGHMAN’S DELI on Pinemont to grab some sammies to go. We have every intention of saving these sandwiches until after we stroll through the MENIL, but we instead lounge on the museum’s lawn and eat every drop of our food immediately. MENIL walkthrough; wishing it were our home, our neighborhood, our life and then on to the brand new NANCY & RICH KINDER BUILDING @ MFAH. This should keep us busy for a few hours until we can head to UNDERBELLY for early dinner & cocktails. We will head home with drinks in the fridge there, stay up late talking & laughing. SUNDAY BFF and I will have had a rough night, so we will be chauffeured by my husband to BB LEMON on Washington because we need at least two blood orange mimosas STAT. Then we will order at least a dozen oysters, the watermelon salad, and maybe the club sandwich to split. We will pretend that we are at the Country Club. Mister will be silent the entire time because BFF and I will never stop talking. We will walk down the block (or two) to RESERVE SUPPLY COMPANY, where I will purchase some killer menswear for our chauffeur as a sort of apology for the noisy lunch. A modest constitution after lunch at BUFFALO BAYOU PARK before BFF gets out of town. Mister and I retire for naps. 🙂

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My Shoutout is a two-parter! First, let me shoutout to Birch Modern Mercantile in Tanglewood, who have been selling my work for a few years now and just killing it. They are respectful of my time & process and are happy to discuss the work & take commissions for clients. So much of my local growth is due to all three of the awesome women in that store (Katie, Shelley & Ann), not to mention how divine the shop is. Think of Birch as the wellspring of your way cooler friend, who has all of the best books, dresses, details and somehow makes everything look effortless. Beautifully curated, with not a single thoughtless item in the store. I am incredibly grateful to have received such support and be in such cool company. Second, I must shoutout to my dear friend, Jacob Spacek of JS Canvas. During the pandemic, he brought me on and taught me some of the finer studio practices in order to aid him with his canvas/panel/pedestal business here in Houston. He has given me the chance to oversee his fabulous space in the warehouse district, with plenty of room to work on my own and lots of art enthusiasts & other artists to talk to throughout my day. My schedule has become a real joy. Jacob is himself an artist, a former gallery owner, and he is a great example of someone in the art community that supports & lifts up other artists.

Website: www.annegenung.com, https://showmeyourwillie.bigcartel.com
Instagram: @annegenung, @showmeyourwillie
Facebook: https://business.facebook.com/annegenungswillie/?business_id=176755496859085

Image Credits
Anne Genung