Behind the mask is based on the duality of being African American while also reinforcing a strong concept of personal identity. By taking molds of authentic African antiquities and recreating them with clay sculptures, Austin makes a juxtaposition of two different worlds, the African part, and the American. This series uses a ceramic technique of press molds creates something new and original while also paying homage to the past. The Masks represent the ancestry and culture of the African Heritage in his DNA. The human figures represent black Americans seeking their personal identities. The figures will be interacting with the masks that represent their historical past while conveying the different feelings and associations with being labeled to the world as an African American.