Ryan Runcie is an Austin-based artist and muralist whose practice moves fluidly between studio and community spaces. Rooted in curiosity and empathy, his work invites vulnerability—beginning with his own. Drawing from the layered experience of growing up as a first-generation American, Runcie explores identity and perception through color and abstraction, challenging the instinct to categorize and instead offering space for reflection and connection.
His murals appear throughout Texas in both civic and corporate settings, including major commissions for Verizon, Moody Center, Starbucks, Austin Energy, Texas Empowerment Academy, Abbott Industries, and the historic Blackshear Fine Arts Academy. Additional landmark projects such as The Rise of Masontown and the Veterans Memorial in San Marcos highlight his commitment to honoring community histories and amplifying local narratives.
Runcie’s murals and exhibitions have been featured by PBS Arts in Context, LUXE, Tribeza, and EASTside Magazine, and he has been recognized as one of Austin’s top contemporary artists to watch. His community-driven collaborations with organizations including Six Square, Big Medium, the Arts Council of Midland, and numerous cultural institutions reflect a sustained dedication to social impact and creative storytelling.
His work is held in private collections nationwide, especially among collectors who champion influential Black contemporary art. Runcie’s paintings and murals resonate with cultural innovators and early adopters, who see him as a rising voice shaping the field's future.
Associated Press
2025 | KUT An East Side story: New mural honors Austin's oldest standing Black-owned barbershop
https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-11-24/ideal-barber-shop-east-austin-tx-new-mural-oldest-black-barbershop
2024 | Texas State University - 125 years (1899-2024)
College Report: College of Fine Arts and Communication, The Alumni Edition
2024 | AVENOIR “Austin’s A-List” Issue 01
2023 | LUXE 4 Black Artists Whose Works Honor Themes Of Juneteenth
https://luxesource.com/4-black-artists-honoring-juneteenth-2023/
2021 | KOOP 91.7 FM Radio: Austin Artists featuring Ryan Runcie
https://www.mixcloud.com/Austin_Artists/austin-artists-12272021-artist-ryan-runcie/
2020 | Ryan Runcie: Color Theory
https://sightlinesmag.org/ryan-runcie-color-theory
2020 | 6 Best Murals Now
https://www.eastsideatx.com/6-best-murals-2020/
2020 | Connecting Community: Bikes. Art. Legacy.
https://us.woombikes.com/blogs/news/connecting-community-six-square-ryan-runcie-austin
2020 | No Justice, No Peace
https://artprofiler.com/black-artists-in-austin/
2020 | The Legal and Logistical Intersection of Public Art Contracts
https://talarts.org/hustle-grind-execute-the-legal-and-logistical-intersection-of-public-art-contracts/
2020 | Masontown Mural
https://www.raasininthesun.org/masontown
2020 | Big Medium’s Coffee Chat with Ryan Runcie
https://www.bigmedium.org/events/coffeechat/ryanruncie
2019 | Tribeza: Ryan Runcie
https://tribeza.com/ryan-runcie-austin-artist/
2019 | ACG: Ryan Runcie: Studio Artist, Muralist, and Instructor
https://www.austinclassicalguitar.org/ryan-runcie-studio-artist-muralist-and-instructor/
2019 | Creative Resistance
https://www.eastsideatx.com/creative-resistance/
2019 | CTC presents Ryan Runcie art exhibit
https://kdhnews.com/news/education/ctc-presents-ryan-runcie-art-exhibit/article_e0e28fbc-d57a-11e9-9403-6f4e1300e8e3.html
2019 | PBS: Arts in Context
https://www.pbs.org/video/ryan-runcie-6cp9sd/
2019 | Top 10 Contemporary Artists from Austin to Know
https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/usa/texas/articles/10-emerging-contemporary-artists-from-austin-to-know/
2018 | A Colorful Narrative
https://www.eastsideatx.com/blackshear-mural/
2018 | Oct- Nov EASTside Magazine Cover and Article: “Creative Resistance“
https://issuu.com/eastsidmag/docs/esm1018_online
2018 | Big Medium: EAST AUSTIN Featured Artist
http://east.bigmedium.org/part/part_165.html
(Video by Vincent Roazzi Jr.) https://vimeo.com/299345043
http://todoaustin.com/2017/11/austins-aachf-added-cultural-arts-division/
2018 | Voyage Houston Featured Artist
http://voyagehouston.com/interview/check-ryan-runcies-artwork/
2016 | Veterans Memorial Interview and Coverage