Started in January 2017 as an art studio for emerging artists with intellectual and developmental disabilities, SAGE Studio works to connect contemporary artists with disabilities to Austin’s broader arts community. SAGE moved into its current space, a refurbished shipping container in East Austin, in May 2018, and began functioning as a dual studio and gallery space that provides Austin-based adults with disabilities the materials, space, and support to produce, exhibit, and sell their artwork.

SAGE works with artists in two capacities. Our studio artists create their art in our East Austin studio, with the guidance of practicing artist facilitators. The goal for participating artists is to strengthen their artistic voice, build a cohesive portfolio of work for exhibition, and pursue a career as a professional artist. All materials are provided to studio artists by SAGE, and studio artists are eligible to have their work displayed in the gallery. SAGE also represents artists in the gallery who create their work outside the studio. These artists can live locally, or may live and work elsewhere in Texas. SAGE currently works with four studio artists and three gallery artists. Both studio and gallery artists are paid a 50% commission on all original work sold in gallery. SAGE Studio’s artists range in age, ethnicity, and diagnosis, and work in a variety of mediums, including drawing, painting, weaving, and paper modeling.

SAGE Studio puts on quarterly art shows, and participates in other relevant programming, such as Big Medium's East Austin Studio Tour in November.

At the core of SAGE Studio’s mission is the message of inclusion: “to increase the visibility of artists with disabilities within Austin’s vibrant arts community, enabling them to become meaningful contributors to the social, economic, and creative life of the community.” In 2018, SAGE was recognized by the Austin Chronicle as Austin's "Best Outsider Art Advocate" in their annual Best of Austin issue.

The Awesome Foundation's microgrant will fund the SAGE Studio spring art show on March 23, 2019.