All About Blue Genie Art Industries

Blue Genie Art Industries was formed in Austin, Texas by Rory Skagen, Dana Younger, and Kevin Collins in 1999.  The company was a merger of two separate companies; Skagen Art, owned by Rory Skagen, and Black Mountain Art, owned by Dana Younger and Kevin Collins.  Initially, Skagen Art focused on murals, and large scale Styrofoam sculpture, and Black Mountain Art had a line of art products with a heavy focus on mold making and props for theater and print ads.  After their initial meeting in 1997, both companies began to rely on each other — until it was agreed upon that a partnership was inevitable.

The owners and principal staff of Blue Genie Art:
(click on any name for a more complete bio)

• Rory Skagen — CEO and Art Director of Blue Genie Art
• Dana Younger — VP of Blue Genie Art
• Kevin Collins — CFO of Blue Genie Art
• Chris Coakley — Secretary of the Corporation
• Ian Shults — Top Illustrator and Head Sculptor
• Dan Morrison — Heads our Metal Fabrication Department
• Ryan Day — Heads our Finishing Department
• Kristin Hogan — A Woman of Many Talents

Some other notable people we have had the pleasure of working with are artists Marty Garcia, Mark Shatz, Frank Zepponi, and Mike O'Brien.

Here at Blue Genie Art, we support artists.  Over the years we have employed scores of seasonal and per job artists, either as employees or subcontractors.  Our Art Bazaar and other shows have featured 100's of artists, and provided a local venue for art commerce.  Our internship program has helped many young artists learn hands-on skills and the reality of making art.

Blue Genie Art is a community leader in Austin's active art scene.
Over the last 10 years, Blue Genie Art has helped establish a city that could proudly have the slogan, "Keep Austin Weird".  Blue Genie's sculptures and murals have helped create a mood in Austin that has boosted commerce and tourism  (Austin Mural, Bob Bullock History Museum).  And in so doing, we have also helped raise the level of awareness of art in general in Austin, Texas.

Rory Skagen has served as a panelist on Austin's Art and Public Places program, and Kevin Collins is our liaison to AArC, an important Austin based arts organization.  Both Dana Younger and Kevin Collins have given studio and shop tours for students and art groups, and Dana has taught and demonstrated numerous mold-making seminars.
Furthermore, over the years Blue Genie Art has donated art to many community charities;  including the Octopus Club, the Texas Biennial, and the Austin Fine Art's Festival.

Among Blue Genie Art's many accolades are their recent 2004 Preservation Award from the Heritage Society of Austin, and their almost yearly award in The Austin Chronicle's Best of Austin.