Meet Anne Shackelford

We were lucky to catch up with Anne Shackelford recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Anne, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I didn’t find my purpose in a single moment—it revealed itself over time, like a thread I kept pulling, woven through art, healing, nature, and connection. I’ve always been drawn to beauty—not just in the aesthetic sense, but in the way beauty can shift energy, open hearts, and awaken something deep and ancient within us.

Early on, I channeled that into hairstyling, helping people feel seen and radiant. That evolved into teaching yoga and sound healing, where I began to understand the body as an instrument, breath as art, and movement as medicine. I watched people remember themselves through these practices—and I realized that was my purpose: to create spaces, objects, and experiences that bring people back to their essence.

My visual art grew from that same root. The materials I work with—wood from the Texas Hill Country and Colorado mountains—carry memory, texture, and vibration. Each piece is an offering: a portal, a prayer, a rhythm. I see myself as a translator between the seen and unseen, the somatic and the spiritual, the human and the more-than-human world.

Purpose, for me, isn’t a job title or identity. It’s a way of being in devotion—to beauty, to resonance, to truth. I live by the belief that art and healing are not separate, and that our most authentic contribution comes from listening deeply, staying attuned, and creating what only we can bring into form.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I’m an interdisciplinary artist working at the intersection of visual art, sound, movement, and healing. My work is rooted in the belief that beauty holds frequency—and that we can use that frequency to recalibrate, reconnect, and remember who we are. Whether through sculpture, sound journeys, or immersive gatherings, I create pieces and experiences that are sensory, somatic, and sacred.

I source my materials with intention—wood from the Texas Hill Country and the Colorado mountains—and often work with raw edges, natural cracks, and elemental textures. Each piece is a collaboration with the land and an invitation into stillness, awe, and resonance. I also host and curate events that weave together breathwork, movement, meditation, and sound, offering people an embodied experience of the unseen layers of art and presence.

What feels most exciting right now is how my work is evolving into full-scale environments—bringing art, ritual, and design into harmony. I’m currently focused on expanding both my Austin-based gallery and my creative offerings in Colorado, where I also host guests in an artist-designed mountain cabin.

You can view my latest works, commission pieces, or join upcoming gatherings at www.chrysalisaustin.com, and follow along on Instagram at @chrysalisaustin and @sierraskyco. I’m also working on a new guide to help people build meaningful, personal art collections—because I believe living with art should be approachable, intuitive, and deeply personal.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Three qualities that have shaped my path the most are intuition, devotion, and adaptability.

Intuition has been my compass. As an artist and healer, I’ve had to trust what I feel before I can see it clearly—whether that’s in choosing materials, shifting directions, or creating new offerings. For anyone starting out, I’d say: carve out quiet space to listen to yourself. Discernment sharpens with time, but it begins by honoring that inner knowing, even when it doesn’t yet make logical sense.

Devotion keeps me anchored. This isn’t just a career—it’s a calling. There are easier paths, but I choose this one again and again because it feels true. That consistency—showing up even when things feel slow or uncertain—builds integrity over time. My advice? Don’t wait for clarity or motivation. Create small, sacred rhythms of practice, and let that devotion become your foundation.

Adaptability has allowed me to grow without burning out. I’ve shifted roles many times—stylist, teacher, artist, spaceholder—and each version of me has added to the whole. Being open to change (and willing to evolve how I express my work) has helped me stay aligned without getting stuck. For those just beginning: give yourself permission to change, and don’t confuse evolution with failure. The path isn’t linear—and that’s part of its beauty.

How can folks who want to work with you connect?

Yes, I’m always open to aligned collaboration—especially with those who are passionate about the intersection of art, healing, movement, and immersive experience. I’m currently expanding both my creative offerings and curated events, and I love working with other artists, sound healers, spaceholders, designers, and photographers who share a reverence for beauty, embodiment, and spiritual depth.

I’m also interested in partnering with wellness spaces, boutique hotels, and local businesses that want to feature original artwork or host creative experiences that go beyond the conventional.

If this resonates, I’d love to hear from you. You can connect with me through my website www.chrysalisaustin.com or via Instagram at @chrysalisaustin. Let’s create something meaningful together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.chrysalisaustin.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrysalisaustin/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChrysalisAustinArt/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/anne-shackelford-chrysalis-studio-austin#hrid:wHQ0onLK7URmdZJU7BQJJQ
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@chrysalisaustin

Image Credits

me