Kerry Awn
Kerry Fitzgerald (born 1949), better known as Kerry Awn, is an American cartoonist, actor, muralist, comedian, musician, iconographer and poster artist. He is best known for his comedy and the iconic 'Austintatious' mural near the University of Texas campus, a landmark he created with two other artists. Born in Houston as Kerry Fitzgerald, Awn became prominent on the Austin countercultural scene in the 1970s as a concert poster artist and as a member of the Uranium Savages. Comedian: stand-up and comedy rock. Kerry Awn went to the Houston Comedy Workshop in 1981 and began his career as  a comedian. In 1982 he joined Esther's Follies where his outlandish characters drew attention. Section::::'Austintatious' mural. Created in 1974, the mural dubbed 'Austintatious' is located on the north-facing wall of the 23rd Street Renaissance Market in Austin, Texas. Considered to be an important part of Austin history, the 40-year-old mural was damaged by graffiti in 1994 and again in January 2014. The colorful mural shows a bustling town beneath a clear blue sky surrounding Stephen F. Austin who is holding a few armadillos. In June 2014, Kerry Awn joined the other two original artists Tom Bauman  and Rick Turner, who had returned to restore the mural. They crowd-sourced to raise $30,000 for supplies and to afford five weeks away from work. The three artists also collaborated in 2003 to create the Tejas mural that covers the opposite end of the market. Other murals by Kerry Awn can be found on Planet K stores in the Austin area. One became the subject of a criminal charge, when the City of Bee Cave objected to it under its sign ordinance. In June 2012, after more than a year of battling over murals and building permits, Bee  Cave City Council approved a settlement with the owner of Planet K. Cartoon and poster art. Kerry Awn's work appeared prominently in Austin's The Rag and Houston's Space City, early underground papers. Often Kerry Awn's art was featured on the cover of Space City. During the heyday of the Armadillo World Headquarters, he created concert posters and handbills, many of which are archived in a collection at the Austin History Center. He was an among the group of artist known as the Armadillo Art Squad. The collection includes posters that promoted shows at Austin venues such  as the Roadhouse, Jovitas, The Ritz, Willies Steamboat, Armadillo World Headquarters, the Continental Club, Soap Creek Saloon, La Zona Rosa, Liberty Lunch, and the Velveeta Room. Painting. Kerry Awn's painting of a young Willie Nelson is at the entrance to the new Outlaws & Armadillos exhibit at the Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum in Nashville. The exhibit opened May 2018 and will run through early 2021. Awards. Kerry Awn was inducted into the Austin Arts Hall of Fame and has been recognized by the City of Austin and the State of Texas for his contributions to the arts . He was voted Austin's funniest person 10 years running by the Austin Chronicle.