Today we’d like to introduce you to Alli Pozeznik.
Every artist has a unique story. Can you briefly walk us through yours?
I feel the story of Austin Rug Co. has just begun. In the next month, it will be one year since this company came into existence. I will say though being creative has always run through my veins. As a child, my parents fostered my interest in art and validated my creativity. I recall feeling exceptionally proud to show my parents my art projects from school. I looked forward to little projects like creating my Valentine’s Day card holder each year in grade school and later in high school. I loved learning how to develop film and test the waters with graphic design. My formal college education started in Graphic Design but ended in a Nursing degree. Since that time, it has still been a dream of mine to put my creativity to the forefront of my vocation. My mantra for last year was “act on inspired thoughts,” this helped me develop the idea to source the vintage rugs I have loved for years and offer these handpicked gems online. I love the thought of these vintage rugs having been loved for decades and decades and how after all those years they still bring a relevant warmth and character to a room. In the future, I hope to expand Austin Rug Co. into a lifestyle brand where all my inspired thoughts can come to reality.
Please tell us about your art.
I have always loved decorating the space I live in, to make it mine and to walk into my home and feel I’ve stepped into my own oasis. The combination of vintage and mid-century modern esthetics are how I would describe my style. Vintage rugs fall into that appreciation. After moving from the midwest to Texas, I felt it was time to express this creativity in a more tangible way, outside my own home. Austin Rug Co. came out of the need to define my space in my new home in Austin. As I researched vintage rugs for my new space, the idea to offer these hand-picked vintage floorcoverings to others came to mind. I started finding purveyors from Turkey and Morocco online. Many of these vendors have been in the rug business through their families for many generations. If you have any interest in home interiors, then you can understand the feeling some “things” make you feel in your home. A softened leather sofa, an heirloom painting passed down from your family or, a handcrafted vintage rug. I want the vintage rugs that I sell to elicit a sentiment that welcomes you into your own home. I also hope the story of Austin Rug Co. speaks to how each of us have the ability to live out our authentic vocations. I feel like I daydream about this every day, to be fully immersed in a career that embodies who I am and then, in turn, can share that with others.
What do you think about the conditions for artists today? Has life become easier or harder for artists in recent years? What can cities like ours do to encourage and help art and artists thrive?
I don’t necessarily put myself in the category of an artist in the traditional sense, but I do feel a passion to create. I can’t speak for others around me, but I do feel that Austin, Texas does have a special energy that encourages collaboration. I also feel that there is a strong camaraderie among women that own small businesses in Austin. It’s nice to be in an environment where unhealthy competition takes a back seat to creativity and authentic support. I think supporting small businesses by using and shopping their products helps build that connection between goods and the enthusiastic business owners behind them.
How or where can people see your work? How can people support your work?
Austin Rug Co. showcases it’s vintage rug treasure trove online at AustinRugCo.com. I love being connected with others that share a passion for interiors and appreciate vintage floor coverings as I do. I love collaborating with other small business owners and enjoy learning from others that are further down the entrepreneurial path than I!
Pricing:
- 10% discount code for VoyageDallas readers! – Use Promo code VOYAGEDALLAS10%
Contact Info:
- Website: AustinRugCo.com
- Phone: 574-370-2814
- Email: alli@austinrugco.com
- Instagram: @austinrugco
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/austinrugco/
Image Credit:
Photos taken by Jessica Santiesteban, Ideology Photography
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