We’re stepping out of New York and into Austin—where the energy is hot, the tacos are good, and the art scene is quickly becoming impossible to ignore.

In this episode, Mackenzie sits down with Austin-based abstract painter Hunter Ash, whose richly layered works feel intuitive, vulnerable, and deeply human. Her paintings aren’t about perfection—they’re about movement. The kind of feeling you recognize before you can name it.

We talk about what it actually looks like to build an art career outside the traditional art capitals, why Austin’s creative community is having a moment, and how Hunter found her voice after taking an unexpected path into the art world. We get into studio routines, creative blocks, and the hardest part of painting: knowing when to stop. Plus: why hating the work might be part of the process, and what it means to make art people genuinely want to live with.

This conversation feels like a deep exhale—honest, grounded, and full of reminders that art doesn’t have to be a shout to be powerful.

Follow Hunter Ash (⁠www.hunterash.com⁠⁠) | Instagram: @hunterash.art

Resources & References

Artists Mentioned in the Episode:

• Winter Ruski, Paintings (2000s–present)

• Heather Day, Abstract Paintings (2010s–present)

• Emily Eisenhart, Paintings (2010s–present)

Painting, sculpture, installation, conceptual work—mediums are the building blocks of how art shows up in the world. But they’re rarely explained in a way that feels accessible or relevant.

In this episode, Mackenzie offers a clear, conversational introduction to the major art mediums you’ll encounter in galleries and museums today. We talk about what defines each one, how artists use them, and why medium matters—not as a rulebook, but as context.

This is not an art history lesson. It’s a guide to looking with more confidence and curiosity. You’ll leave with a clearer sense of how to approach different kinds of work, what questions to ask, and how to articulate your reactions without overthinking them.

Because understanding the medium doesn’t limit your response—it deepens it.

“Good” is one of the most powerful—and elusive—currencies in the art world. But where does it actually come from?

In this episode, Mackenzie unpacks how taste is formed, circulated, and reinforced—from the quiet influence of institutions to the louder signals of cultural buzz. We look at how context, scarcity, storytelling, and timing shape what we’re drawn to, and why certain artists or aesthetics suddenly feel unavoidable.

Rather than chasing trends, Decoding Cool offers a framework for understanding them. It’s an invitation to look more closely at why we desire what we desire—and how to develop a point of view that feels informed, personal, and durable.

Good isn’t accidental. It’s constructed. And once you see the architecture, you’re free to decide what actually resonates.