Downtown pizza. The Downtown Pizza Company now operates out of the old Duke’s building, 1502 Grand Blvd. The pizza company got help getting the news out from Alexander Austin, an artist who painted the company logo on the side of the building. Joe Jarosz

By Samantha Belcourt
Northeast News
April 15, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Downtown Pizza Company has not only been serving Kansas City pizza, but also serves as a steward of the downtown area.

Recently, Downtown Pizza Company lost its lease at it’s original location, 1118 McGee St.

“I was at the old location for about a year or so,”Andy Skeen, owner of Downtown Pizza Company said.

But earlier this year, Downtown Pizza Company has moved into, and taken over, the old Duke’s on Grand location, 1501 Grand Blvd. As part of the remodeling, they were recommended the services of local artist Alexander Austin to paint their logos on the side of the new location.

A self-taught artist, Austin previously painted the artwork on the side of Bob Jones Shoes, the Buck O’Neil tribute at 18th and Vine, Martin Luther King at Linwood Boulevard and Troost Avenue, and many more. A professional billboard artist discovered Austin, who began drawing at an early age, when he entered his artwork in the North Florida Fair.

Austin is not only enormously talented but, for a time, was also homeless. He began reaching out to other downtown businesses for help. Officials from the Kansas City Kansas Community College’s The Gallery provided him with supplies he needed.This past February, The Gallery held an exhibit showcasing his work. In the past, he’s also freelanced with Hallmark. His work graces the homes of Danny Glover, Christopher Gardner, Will Smith, Magic Johnson, Stedman Graham and many more celebrities.

“I’d target a building, get the owners’ permission and I’d do a sketch and go from there,” Austin said, adding owners would supply a gallon of black and a gallon of white paint. “Once it started looking like a real mural, I’d put out a donation bucket.”

Barbara Clark-Evans, director of the Intercultural Center at the KCKCC, helped put Alex’s show together. At The Gallery, he had some smaller works on display, along with his murals.

“We focus on local artists for the spaces,” Clark-Evans said. “Alex had both 3D and 2D [artwork] available for purchase.”