Richie Shazam Builds a Mythology of the Self in Austin

The artist's debut solo exhibition explores identity and trauma through self-portraiture.

Apr. 10, 2026 at 6:12pm

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An extreme close-up of a shattered, glittering disco ball reflecting a kaleidoscope of colors, conceptually representing the fragmented and reconstructed nature of personal identity.Richie Shazam's deconstructed self-portraits in 'I Was Never Meant to Survive This' reflect the artist's journey of identity exploration and personal healing.Austin Today

In her debut solo exhibition 'I Was Never Meant to Survive This' in Austin, artist Richie Shazam turned dolls, debris, and self-portraiture into a meditation on identity and becoming. The show featured fantastical, deconstructed self-portraits composed of tissue-paper vaginas, big-lipped sex doll masks, and streaks of blue paint to render herself feline.

Why it matters

Shazam's work represents a growing trend of artists using their own bodies and personal experiences as the subject matter for their art, creating a mythology of the self. Her exhibition explores deeply personal and intimate traumas, allowing her to dig deeper and be more introspective about her identity and journey of self-discovery.

The details

Shazam's exhibition at the McLennon Pen Co. gallery in Austin featured a series of self-portraits that deconstructed her own image, using unconventional materials like tissue-paper vaginas and sex doll masks. The work allowed her to unearth past traumas and reinterpret key moments in her life into something tangible, rather than letting them fester. Shazam sees the work as a 'healing journey' and a constant state of becoming, with new work always emerging from her introspective process.

  • Richie Shazam's debut solo exhibition 'I Was Never Meant to Survive This' opened last month in Austin.

The players

Richie Shazam

An artist who uses her own body and personal experiences as the subject matter for her art, creating a mythology of the self.

McLennon Pen Co.

The gallery in Austin that hosted Richie Shazam's debut solo exhibition.

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What they’re saying

“The work is never done! My exhibition explores deeply personal and intimate traumas that I haven't felt ready to unwrap and bring to the surface. It has taken so much time to feel comfortable unearthing my past and reinterpreting these key moments into something tangible so it no longer festers. It truly didn't feel like conventional work. It was cathartic—almost a *healing journey.* This work allowed me to dig deeper and to be even more introspective. I am in a constant state of becoming, which always brings new work to the forefront.”

— Richie Shazam, Artist

The takeaway

Richie Shazam's exhibition represents a growing trend of artists using their own bodies and personal experiences as the subject matter for their art, creating a mythology of the self. Her work explores deeply personal traumas and allows her to be more introspective about her identity and journey of self-discovery, serving as a 'healing journey' in the process.