Willie Austin
PRESS KIT

Willie Austin, press

Bios, photos and the key dates for writing about Willie Austin, his paintings, his clothing and theSHFT. Everything here is free to use with coverage.

Bios

50 WORDS

Willie Austin is a painter, fashion designer and the founder and sole developer of theSHFT, a private messenger on the App Store. From Selma, Alabama, he earned a computer science degree at Troy University in 2017. His portraits hang at Troy University, and Jayson Tatum wore his Willie Austin label.

120 WORDS

Willie Austin is a painter, fashion designer and the founder and sole developer of theSHFT, a private messenger that needs no phone number. He is from Selma, Alabama, and earned a computer science degree from Troy University in 2017. He started painting in April 2020, after his grandmother passed away. His portrait of Representative John R. Lewis hangs in John Robert Lewis Hall at Troy University, and his portrait of the late Trustee Lamar P. Higgins hangs at the Rosa Parks Museum. Jayson Tatum wore his Willie Austin label, which showed its second collection at Gallier Hall in New Orleans in 2023. He built theSHFT alone, from the first line in December 2025 to the App Store in September 2026.

Photos

For larger files, app screenshots or a specific photo, email willie@theshft.app. Headshots and app screenshots are also in the theSHFT press kit.

Key facts

  1. ROOTSFrom Selma, Alabama. Graduated from Selma High School in 2011.
  2. MAY 2017Bachelor's degree in computer science, Troy University.
  3. 2017 AND 2019Started his first clothing brands, Yon and then Blankname.
  4. APRIL 2020Started painting. His first painting was a portrait of his grandmother.
  5. DECEMBER 7, 2020Presented Good Trouble, his portrait of Representative John R. Lewis, at Troy University. It hangs in John Robert Lewis Hall.
  6. NOVEMBER 26, 2021The Willie Austin Collection One Sideline Jacket dropped.
  7. JANUARY 2022Jayson Tatum posted himself on Instagram in the Sideline Jacket.
  8. DECEMBER 1, 2022His portrait of the late Troy University Trustee Lamar P. Higgins was unveiled at the Rosa Parks Museum.
  9. SEPTEMBER 23, 2023Collection Two, Perspective Beauty, at Gallier Hall in New Orleans, hosted by NOLA Fashion Week. His first runway show.
  10. JULY 2024Began the Selma Collection, portraits honoring people who have made an impact on Selma.
  11. SEPTEMBER 2025Released his first app, Scannly, on the App Store.
  12. DECEMBER 2025Wrote the first line of theSHFT.
  13. SEPTEMBER 2026Launched theSHFT on the App Store, built alone.

As seen in

Contact

Interviews, podcasts and speaking, about building an app alone, about painting and about the clothes. Any format works, a call, written questions or a podcast.