Aaron-Bir

Aaron Bir is an artist living in Austin, TX. He has been a professional illustrator, cartoonist, and painter since 2009. Aaron was primarily self-taught through a handful of years of failed training at the School of Fine Art at Ohio University in Athens, OH.

Aaron’s motivation is creating a confluence of narrative, expression and symbol on two dimensional surfaces in styles ranging from modern cartoon to expressionistic-realism .

These interests have manifested through his work in the “comic” medium, allowing Aaron to explore both personal and outlandish ideas in a sequence of static images to express time and narrative. It may also be seen in his illustrative work interpreting prose into a singular symbol of the whole text (… or vice versa, such as in the 22 Stories series, in which Aaron created illustrations that were later used as inspiration for over a hundred writers in a crowd sourcing experiment).

Aaron’s current work consists of experiments in juxtaposing collage inspired painting/illustrations and a dreamlike recollection of the past to create a multimedia autobiography. His present series Syndetic is based on subject matter that he considers integral in shaping the way he interacts with world and the view Aaron has of himself. The pieces will be painted and written chronologically, touching on keystone events and people including the birth and death of his brother, failed and successful relationships, his many suicide attempts, experiences travelling, and adventures in communes. The outcome will be an exhibition of mixed media paintings and handwritten essays, culminating in a stage performance and book.


Aaron worked as the Art Director for the publishing house, Grayhaven Comics.

He has been published several times as an illustrator, in;

The Gathering, multiple issues of the comix anthology by, Grayhaven Comics
Slice, a Brooklyn, NY, literature and poetry magazine by Slice Literary Inc.
Tales of the Talisman, a fantasy and speculative fiction quarterly by Hadrosaur Productions
Americans UK Mixtape, a comic anthology by AM UK Comics
And his ongoing graphic serial, Thomas the Headless Boy, released online by Brooklyn art and literature salon TripCity.net
Aaron was crucial in starting and running the Austin, TX, fine art space and collective The Phoenix (2011-current) . The Phoenix has hosted monthly group art shows focusing on diverse subject matter, from mixed media to photography to metal work to performance to conceptual to painting. Aaron curated each show singly and has shown the work of over a hundred Austin area artists.

Aaron has shown work in the following:

STAPLE! Independent Media Expo, Austin, TX 2010 and 2011
Museum of Comic and Cartooning Art Festival, New York, NY, 2011
East Austin Studio Tour, Austin, TX 2011 - 2013
Several Exhibits, The Phoenix, Austin, TX 2011 to 2013
Austin Nerd Cave Showcase, Austin, TX 2012
Monster Bash, Austin TX 2012
Georgetown Art Hop, Georgetown, TX 2013