Austin with Jake Arrieta at Wrigley Field, Opening Day 2015
I grew up 100 miles Southwest of Chicago, spending my Summers playing baseball and developing a deep love for the team on the North side of the city. My love for creating art meshed with my love for baseball during my high school years, and the rest is history. What began as a hobby is now a passion of mine; my artwork has defined my life for several years now and I can’t imagine living without it.
Austin with Cubs Catcher Willson Contreras at Club 400, 2019
Austin Ploch
Peru, IL 61354
Tel. +1 815 993 7919
E. PlochArtwork@gmail.com
As a child, I filled an entire binder with dozens of drawings of animals, cartoon characters, and other people that I idolized. As an adult, not much has changed as I spend my time painting portraits of all of my favorite athletes.
Since graduating High School, I have painted over 250 portraits of athletes of all different sports. My work has even captured the attention of some of these athletes, many of whom have my art hanging in their own homes. I have done paintings for Cubs players Jake Arrieta, Willson Contreras, Pedro Strop, John Baker, and even former head coach Joe Maddon.
I also love giving back, and art has always been a great way to do this. Donations of my work have raised over $10,000 for various causes, such as Toys for Tots, Special Olympics, Autism Speaks, and many other fundraisers.