Upon graduating High School, Austin Pope enlisted in the military as a United States Army Ranger in January 2001. After being deployed to both in Afghanistan and Iraq, he returned to Chicago at the end of his military term in 2005. One thing that became immediately apparent when he became a civilian was the contrast in systemic hierarchies as it related to his experience being a black veteran. The Army provided him with a systemic hierarchy that empowered him as a solider, leaving him with a sense of honor and appreciation. Austin’s fondness for the local art scene emerged in 2013. Soon after, he found a passion for photography. Austin enrolled in the MFA program at School of the Arts Institute in 2018. Austin currently resides in Los Angeles.
