Man with knuckle tattoos spelling JUNKING shows fists covered in tattoo sleeves outdoors.

THE JUNK KING

One man's junk is Vince Hannemann's treasure.
Tattooed man in white t-shirt smiling outdoors surrounded by colorful metal sculptures in a junkyard art installation.
Cluttered junkyard pile of scrap metal, yellow machinery parts, wires, and glass bottles in an industrial salvage yard.

"It all started in the...I forget.."


If you ask Vince when his junk collection started, he'll probably tell you it was sometime in the late eighties. Having moved to Austin from New Mexico back in the day, Vince has lived in the same house he bought when he first rolled into town. If you're a tourist or you don't live in the neighborhood, his home is something to marvel at. If you're a neighbor, you're probably less impressed by the spectacle. From the street, you can see his massive, two-story "Cathedral of Junk" towering over his roof.

A narrow alleyway filled with colorful eclectic art installations, sculptures, and found objects creating an immersive outdoor gallery.

Photos really don't do this place justice. I first came to Vince's house in 2022 and toured the cathedral pretty extensively. Your senses are overwhelmed by every color on the spectrum. It's followed by an odd feeling of nostalgia. It's an odd nostalgia for a time and place that never existed. Toys and gadgets from every decade line the walls and ceilings. Right outside near the house, there's a shed full of photos from guests and celebrities who have stopped in to see the cathedral, including a wedding party and the cast of Spy Kids 3D.

Vintage black and white photo collage showing people outdoors with handwritten captions on aged paper.
Collection of vintage troll dolls with colorful hair displayed on a rod, reflecting in a mirror.

Vince is a pretty quirky guy. Friendly as all get-out, but in a sort of snarky way. To see the cathedral, you simply call his cell or just show up and see if he's home. According to Vince, this fact has been the cause of... strains on past marriages.


I returned in 2024 to do an interview with Vince, which you can find on my YouTube. All things considered, I think it was a fine piece. Vince was not as comfortable on the day of the shoot as he was on the phone. He was also highly intoxicated during the whole production but, hey, we made it work. It made the whole ordeal much more entertaining.

Eclectic outdoor sculpture made of salvaged metal parts, hubcaps, and a rocket, under a partly cloudy sky.
Eclectic outdoor art installation with vintage license plates, signs, and salvaged metal objects creating a unique sculptural environment.