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Official Poster Series

The Kentucky Derby Festival poster series began in 1981 as a marketing tool designed to generate pre-season interest in the Derby Festival. Over the years, it's become a unique symbol of the community. The Festival's Official Poster Series is nationally recognized and has helped to enhance the careers of artists from around the country.

2010 marks the 30th year of the Official Poster Series. The work of James Thornton of Louisville, Kentucky, was selected as the official art of the Festival's 55th annual celebration. 

Thornton, a Louisville native and in-residence artist for Oz Galleries, said the 2010 Official Poster was his first submission to the Derby Festival. “I had never submitted any art work to the Derby Festival before,” he said. “It was kind of ironic because I had already started working on a piece and was encouraged by (Framer’s Supply president) Michael Sweets to show it to the Festival. I was very surprised when I found out that it had been chosen. Going to the Poster Premiere last year gave me an idea of what it would be like to be the Official Poster Artist, so I was thrilled.”

Past Derby Festival poster designs decorate offices and homes throughout the region. Peter Max's expressionistic "Bluegrass Pegasus" launched the series in 1981, and a stylistic and geographical mix of artists have been showcased over the years. The signed collector editions continue to significantly increase in value, and the quality of the Poster series has been recognized worldwide.

Elements of the 2010 image will grace posters, t-shirts, glasses, television commercials and more than 100 retail items in celebration of the Kentucky Derby Festival. The Derby Festival Poster is printed by Clark and Riggs Printing.