Today we’d like to introduce you to Austin Bakaric.
Hi Austin, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I, Austin Bakaric, was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. I’ve been active in Salt Lake’s nightlife & drag scene for about nine years now.
I’ve always been an outgoing individual, as I felt comfortable coming out at 16 years old. Coming out at an early age offered me the opportunity to grow with the LGBTQIA+ community here in Utah. It was there and then that I discovered that I had artistic talents of a drag nature. That was received well amongst my queer peers.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There’s a common misconception that drag has to be this glamorous dramatization of women. I’ve never had any ill feelings towards that concept, but for myself, I wanted to express my art away from that dynamic.
Having realized I could still do everything that a Drag Queen was doing, and still create performance art. I started to label myself as a Drag Artist, and just went for it.
When I initially started, my art wasn’t perceived well, especially during that time here in Salt Lake City. Drag was still considered the kids at the weirdo table. It wasn’t until shows like Rupaul’s Drag Race became more prominent that drag as an art form became mainstream in pop culture.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I specialize in nightlife performance art. Like I said previously, I consider myself a Drag Artist. I specialize in bending the gender normative. My drag aesthetic is a historic drag with, a twist on masculinity, and a dash of feminine energy. Sometimes my character isn’t even human in nature, but an ethereal creature.
The proudest moment in my drag career is getting the opportunity to share Salt Lake drag with queens from Rupaul’s Drag Race who often come here to perform. However, I’m truly proudest when I engage with the audience and incite a reaction worth remembering.
What sets me apart from others? I don’t see a lot of historic influences in drag today. It’s also uncommon to run into a Drag Artist who bends into masculine, feminine, and creature-like characters while maintaining a singular identity.
Sometimes I’ve Shelley Dissolve, Austin Bakaric, or a fantastical satyr. For example, I find it fun to take an outfit from 17th century England and turn it into a modern drag version of itself.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
For the longest time, I’ve feared feminizing my drag due to being ridiculed by men I wanted to date. That’s why much of my earlier drag was in more male silhouettes.
Since being with my partner now for more than 3 years, I’ve rediscovered that I can in fact be more feminine in my drag. I’ve recently created a new drag persona named “Shelly Dissolve” and I plan on doing a lot more with that persona.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @austin.bakaric
Image Credits
https://www.instagram.com/anotherelement and Adam Sandberg
