<NeighborhoodCard slug="clarksville" />
If you’re looking for the most quietly buzzed‑about art event in Austin this month, it’s happening inside a 120‑year‑old building on West 6th Street. Malcolm Bucknall’s “My Make Believe” at [Wally Workman Gallery](https://www.wallyworkmangallery.com) is already being called one of January’s most anticipated gallery experiences, and it brings a rare mix of surrealism, old‑master technique, and anthropomorphic dream logic that Austin’s art scene doesn’t get often enough. For a deeper sense of Bucknall’s background and career, you can explore his [artist biography and career highlights](https://www.meer.com/en/35357-malcolm-bucknall).
<PlaceCard name="Wally Workman Gallery" address="1202 West 6th Street, Austin, TX 78703" hours="Tuesday–Saturday 10am–5pm; Sunday 12–4pm; Monday closed" phone="512-472-7428" website="https://www.wallyworkmangallery.com" />
<Note>The gallery is housed in a 120-year-old West 6th bungalow, which means intimate viewing rooms, historic character, and a quieter, more personal experience than a large museum.</Note>
This is the first major Bucknall show Austin has seen in years, and it’s a standout: oil works filled with hybrid human‑animal figures, theatrical lighting, and visual storytelling that pulls from Renaissance compositions as much as it does from childhood imagination and home photography. To compare this new body of work to earlier exhibitions, the [Austin Chronicle’s review of Bucknall’s prior Wally Workman show](https://www.austinchronicle.com/arts/review-the-other-thing-is-12947583/) offers useful context. You can also skim his broader [exhibition history and solo shows](https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Malcolm-Bucknall/67410E7D33B96C04/Biography) to see how this moment fits into his long‑running practice. The result is eerie, enchanting, and strangely funny—exactly the kind of work that sits with you for days.
<Rating value={4.5} />
<Pros>Rare major Bucknall show in Austin, Rich surreal imagery and narrative depth, Historic and intimate gallery setting, Free-to-enter exhibition</Pros> <Cons>Short exhibition window, Weekend crowds can feel tight in smaller rooms, Some imagery may be unsettling for very young kids</Cons>
<Verdict rating={5}>A must-see for Austin art fans this month, especially if you’re into narrative painting, surrealism, or seeing museum-caliber work in a neighborhood gallery setting.</Verdict>
The exhibition runs January 10 through February 1, giving locals a solid window to see it before pieces begin disappearing into private collections. If you’re plotting out your arts calendar, it’s worth checking the [Glasstire event listing for “My Make Believe”](https://glasstire.com/events/2025/12/22/malcolm-bucknall-4/) alongside other Texas visual art highlights this season.
INSIDER INTELLIGENCE
• Wally Workman Gallery tends to have weekend spikes between 12–2pm. If you want quiet viewing, arrive right at opening on a weekday, and consider browsing Bucknall’s [artist profile with exhibitions and influences](https://www.artsy.net/artist/malcolm-bucknall) beforehand so you can spend more time with specific pieces that interest you.
<Tip>Hit the gallery right at weekday opening for the calmest experience, and come with a short list of pieces or themes you’re curious about so you can linger where it matters most.</Tip>
• Bucknall’s pieces often include subtle narrative pairings between works across the room. Ask staff about “linked” themes—they’re happy to point out connections most viewers miss, and the gallery’s own short piece, [“The Musings of Malcolm Bucknall”](https://wallyworkmangallery.com/blog.html?article=The-Musings-of-Malcolm-Bucknall), gives a glimpse into how he thinks about those internal storylines.
<Note>Plan on at least two slow laps around the space—many of Bucknall’s best visual “punchlines” only land once you’ve noticed how characters and motifs echo across different canvases.</Note>
• Parking around West 6th can be tricky. The gallery has limited spots behind the building via the alley off Blanco and Harthan, but locals typically park on Blanco Street for the easiest walk‑in. If you want a broader primer on smart local parking strategies, especially downtown, this guide to [Austin’s Hidden Park ATX parking hack](https://austintexasthings.com/article/inside-austins-hidden-park-atx-hack-how-to-stack-your-two-daily-free-parking-sessions-like-a-local) is a surprisingly handy read.
<Warning>Street parking on and around West 6th fills up fast, especially at night and on weekends—