Posted by Juliet Whitsett on Feb 23rd 2020
Juliet Whitsett Bio
Juliet Whitsett (she/her) is an Austin-based artist and arts and environmental educator whose research-driven practice explores the biodiversity of Texas through color, ecological storytelling, and community engagement. Her work focuses particularly on threatened and endangered species, Species of Greatest Conservation Need, and other wildlife that make Texas a special place to be. Through scientific research and collaboration, she creates artwork, public installations, and art-science projects that invite broader engagement with the state’s remarkable natural diversity.
Whitsett is a co-founder and the current artist behind the Really Small Museum (RSM), an ongoing outdoor micro-museum launched in 2021 that brings contemporary art, environmental education, and community engagement into public spaces. RSM projects have been presented through collaborations with the Austin Nature & Science Center and Austin Parks & Recreation, and the Trail Conservancy including RSM: POINT B, TEMPO on the Trail: The ECO, and The ROAM, a rotating exhibition program that brings site-responsive contemporary art to Austin’s nature preserves.
Her separate Audio Wild series (2023–2025) paired site-specific audio and visual work with Austin-area natural spaces, including Goat Cave Karst Nature Preserve, Colorado River Park Wildlife Sanctuary, Red Bluff Nature Preserve, and Wild Basin Creative Research Center. Other public projects include Threatened Texas Art Walks (2021–2023), which explored Texas biodiversity through guided art experiences and public engagement.
Her work has been supported through ACME ELEVATE grants, including RSM: POINT B (2024) and programming at the Austin Nature & Science Center (2025), as well as TEMPO on the Trail (2024–2025). She was an Artist Fellow with Planet Texas 2050 at The University of Texas at Austin from 2022–2026.
Whitsett has developed educational programs, exhibitions, and public engagement projects with institutions including the High Line, University of Texas Planet Texas 2050, Botanical Research Institute of Texas, Bullock Texas State History Museum, Elisabet Ney Museum, Westcave Outdoor Research Center, SXSW, Thinkery, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
She holds an M.A. in Community-Based Arts Education from The University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Art Education from the University of Wisconsin–Madison.