Austin Kleon

Austin Kleon
Name	Austin Kleon
Birth date	1983
Birth place	Columbus, Ohio, United States
Occupation	Writer, artist, speaker
Notable works	"Steal Like an Artist", "Show Your Work!", "Keep Going"

Austin Kleon is an American writer, artist, and speaker known for books and talks that synthesize creativity, social sharing, and practical advice for makers. He gained public attention for short, aphoristic books that combine handwritten text and collage-style illustrations, reaching audiences across publishing, technology, and arts sectors. Kleon’s work frequently intersects with contemporary networks of artists, authors, and institutions, situating him among figures in publishing, design, and creative communities.

Early life and education

Born in Columbus, Ohio, Kleon grew up near the Midwestern cultural scenes that include institutions like Ohio State University and regional arts organizations. He studied at schools and community programs that exposed him to literature and visual arts, drawing connections to writers and visual practitioners associated with Barnes Foundation, Museum of Modern Art, and regional galleries. His early influences included visits to libraries and archives linked to collections such as those at New York Public Library, British Library, and university special collections like Harvard University and Yale University.

Career

Kleon began his professional life at the intersection of publishing and digital media, working in contexts that connected him to journals, magazines, and creative technology companies including networks around The New York Times, The Guardian, Fast Company, and Wired. He built a reputation through a mix of independent publishing, gallery collaborations, and public talks that aligned him with speakers who present at venues such as TED Conference, SXSW, and literary festivals tied to Hay Festival and Austentatious events. Over time he collaborated with designers, typographers, and illustrators from communities around AIGA, Pentagram, and independent presses like Farrar, Straus and Giroux.

Major works and themes

Kleon’s breakout book promoted a set of creative principles that echo earlier manifestos and advice texts from figures associated with Andy Warhol, William S. Burroughs, and John Steinbeck—writers and artists who explored appropriation, craft, and public life. His major titles advocate practices of making, sharing, and sustaining creative work, responding to cultural conversations linked to platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, and publishing ecosystems including Penguin Random House and Little, Brown and Company. Central themes in his work parallel debates addressed by voices like Maria Popova, Seth Godin, and Elizabeth Gilbert regarding originality, process, and audience.

Artistic style and influences

Visually, Kleon’s style combines handwritten notes, cut-and-paste collage, and xerox-culture aesthetics that relate historically to movements and practitioners connected to Dada, Fluxus, and artists like Robert Rauschenberg, Kurt Schwitters, and Barbara Kruger. His illustrations and layouts recall the DIY zine traditions practiced by communities around Riot Grrrl and independent publishing collectives such as those that worked with City Lights Publishers and Cartoonist Raymond Pettibon. Intertextual influences include authors and essayists within the networks of Susan Sontag, Roland Barthes, and Walter Benjamin, whose writing on authorship and reproducibility resonates with Kleon’s preoccupations.

Publications and media appearances

Kleon has authored several widely distributed books that have been translated and promoted via mainstream and independent channels, aligning with publishers and platforms like Workman Publishing, Simon & Schuster, and NPR. His titles have been featured in coverage by outlets including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, BBC, and production environments for podcasts and radio programs such as Fresh Air, The Tim Ferriss Show, and This American Life. He has given keynote talks and workshops at creative and professional gatherings hosted by institutions like Google, Facebook, Harvard Business School, and arts organizations including Tate Modern and the Walker Art Center.

Awards and recognition

Kleon’s books have appeared on bestseller lists and earned recognition from cultural commentators and professional associations in publishing and design, with mentions in lists curated by New York Times Best Sellers, Publishers Weekly, and design-award environments linked to AIGA and Print Magazine. His influence has been acknowledged in end-of-year roundups by outlets such as Forbes, Fast Company, and Time Magazine, and he has received invitations to residencies and speaking fellowships related to programs at Yaddo, MacDowell Colony, and university centers affiliated with Columbia University and Stanford University.

Category:American writers Category:American artists