Austin Kleon

Background

Austin Kleon was born in 1980 in Circleville, Ohio. He attended Miami University, where he graduated with a degree in English. His early career was not defined by a traditional corporate path but by a series of creative explorations. He worked in a library and held a day job as a web designer while simultaneously developing his personal artistic and writing practices. This period was foundational, allowing him to experiment with poetry and visual art, which later became central to his professional output.

Major Contributions

Kleon is best known for authoring a trilogy of bestselling books that explore creativity in the digital age. These works are not inventions or companies but rather conceptual frameworks and methodologies.
Steal Like an Artist (2012)
Show Your Work! (2014)
Keep Going (2019)
His core theory advocates for a remix culture, arguing that all creative work builds on what came before. He promotes the idea of "productive theft" for inspiration, coupled with the necessity of sharing one's process openly. A significant and widely recognized contribution is his practice of "newspaper blackout poetry," where he creates poems by redacting words from newspaper articles with a permanent marker, leaving only a new composition visible.

Impact on Their Field

Kleon’s impact is most evident in the fields of creative writing, art, and personal productivity. His books have been translated into dozens of languages, indicating a broad, international reach. His philosophies are frequently cited by writers, artists, marketers, and educators. He has helped democratize and demystify the creative process, moving the conversation away from mythical notions of genius and toward a more accessible, process-oriented approach. His work is often used in workshops and classrooms to teach concepts of fair use, inspiration, and personal branding.

Current Work/Relevance

Austin Kleon continues to be an active author and speaker. He maintains a popular weekly newsletter that disseminates his thoughts on creativity, books, and culture to a large subscriber base. He frequently gives talks and workshops at universities and conferences for creative professionals. His ongoing relevance is sustained by his consistent engagement with his audience through his blog and social media, where he practices the "show your work" philosophy he preaches, sharing his influences, works-in-progress, and personal reflections.

Austin Kleon is a writer and artist living in Austin, Texas. He started his career creating poetry by blacking out words in newspaper articles, a method that led to his first book and a new creative path. He describes himself as "a writer who draws," blending simple illustrations with insightful ideas about creativity in the digital age.

Why they matter

Kleon’s work has resonated with millions for its accessible and encouraging approach to creativity. He didn’t invent new concepts so much as repackage timeless advice in a way that feels fresh and immediately useful. His books have become essential reading for artists, writers, entrepreneurs, and anyone trying to navigate a creative life, selling over a million copies worldwide and being translated into dozens of languages.

What they’re known for

Austin Kleon is best known for his bestselling trilogy of books that serve as manifestos for the modern creator.

Steal Like an Artist: This book argues that all creative work builds on what came before and that embracing influence, rather than fearing it, is key to originality. Its ten transformative principles are a rallying cry for a new generation of makers.

Show Your Work!: This guide focuses on the importance of sharing your process and connecting with a community, teaching you how to put your work out there without being a self-promotion expert.

Keep Going: The third book offers 10 ways to stay creative and sane in what often feels like an overwhelming world, providing practical advice for maintaining long-term creative momentum.

His weekly newsletter is also a popular source of inspiration, where he shares his reading, seeing, and thinking with a devoted audience.