Scent Fair Austin
Contemporary Art Through the Sense of Smell
Scent Fair Austin is a multidisciplinary contemporary art platform dedicated to advancing scent as a legitimate artistic medium. Founded by curator Carlos Moreno through Barrio Pop Studio, Scent Fair brings together artists, perfumers, scholars, and the public to explore how olfaction transforms the way we experience art, memory, identity, and place.
Presented annually in Austin, Texas, Scent Fair commissions new work, presents exhibitions and installations, and produces conversations, performances, workshops, and sensory experiences that expand the possibilities of contemporary art beyond the visual. The fair serves as a meeting place for artists working across disciplines while inviting audiences to engage with scent as a powerful vehicle for storytelling, cultural memory, and embodied experience.
Inspired by developments in olfactory art, sensory studies, and neuroaesthetics, Scent Fair creates opportunities for artists and audiences to explore how smell influences perception, emotion, imagination, and collective memory.
Our Mission
Scent Fair Austin advances scent as a contemporary artistic medium through exhibitions, public programming, artist commissions, and interdisciplinary collaborations that connect visual art, fragrance, science, and community.
We believe that smell is not simply an accessory to art—it is a material capable of communicating history, identity, emotion, and cultural knowledge. Through thoughtful curation and public engagement, Scent Fair creates meaningful encounters that invite visitors to experience art with their entire body.
What We Do
Throughout the year, Scent Fair Austin presents:
Curated exhibitions featuring artists working with scent and multisensory installation
Artist commissions and new experimental projects
Public conversations and panel discussions
Workshops and community engagement programs
Performances and sensory activations
Research collaborations exploring neuroaesthetics, perception, and creative well-being
Educational resources that expand access to contemporary art through sensory learning
Scent Lab
Scent Lab is the signature public program of Scent Fair Austin and Barrio Pop Studio.
Developed by curator Carlos Moreno and neuroaesthetics researcher Dr. Niru Kumar, Scent Lab combines slow-looking, botanical scent exploration, facilitated dialogue, and creative practice to help participants experience contemporary art through the senses. Each session is uniquely designed in response to a current exhibition and offers an intimate space for reflection, learning, and community connection.
About Barrio Pop Studio
Barrio Pop Studio is an independent curatorial practice based in Austin, Texas, dedicated to creating contemporary art experiences that foster curiosity, accessibility, and cultural exchange. Through exhibitions, public programs, artist collaborations, and publishing initiatives, Barrio Pop Studio explores how art can cultivate deeper relationships between people, place, and the senses.
Scent Fair Austin is one of Barrio Pop Studio's flagship initiatives, reflecting its commitment to expanding contemporary art through interdisciplinary and community-centered practice.
Vision
We envision a future in which scent is recognized alongside painting, sculpture, sound, and performance as a vital medium within contemporary art. By supporting artists, fostering research, and creating spaces for sensory exploration, Scent Fair Austin seeks to become a leading platform for olfactory art in the United States.
Whether attending the annual fair, participating in Scent Lab, or engaging with one of our public programs, visitors are invited to slow down, awaken their senses, and discover new ways of experiencing contemporary art.