Published May 16, 2025

Artown 30^th Anniversary Poster Created by Connor Fogal

by Beth Macmillan

Each year, going on for three decades now, Artown has produced a poster during the summer to identify and celebrate all our July events, the arts, and our community. These posters are a point in time snapshot that captures the theme and spirit of each festival, highlights northern Nevada’s natural beauty and symbolizes the relationship between each individual artist, Artown and our region.

The posters have varied widely throughout the years, with each one having unique components, patterns, and ideas creatively placed within them. The final poster goes on to serve as a stunning visual, that brands the entire Artown festival and the Truckee Meadows as a community and destination that prioritizes and values the arts. It's always a difficult decision to select the annual poster artist. This year was no different. We can collectively take great pride in the fact that so many talented artists call northern Nevada home.

We’re delighted and happy to say that we selected local artist Connor Fogal as the 30^th anniversary Artown poster artist. Connor is a portrait and mural artist from Reno who has been painting for over 20 years. Connor is an assistive technology ambassador and the digital media producer and editor at UNR within the Nevada Center for Excellence in Disabilities. Born with Cerebral Palsy, which affects his speech, he uses a head-pointer to create elaborate murals and portraits and has been commissioned to paint at Renown Regional Medical Center, the University of Nevada, Reno, the Historic Lake Mansion, and for several private commissions. Inspired by artists Edward Hopper and Vincent Van Gogh, Connor stated, that for the Artown poster, “I wanted to showcase our beautiful city with our beautiful desert sunset.”

Connor noted that working to create the 30^th anniversary Artown poster was, “... the best experience ever just because they just saw me and my skills, not the wheelchair nor the disability.” The poster depicts a silhouetted musician who plays the saxophone against a familiar Nevada, vibrant sunset backdrop, with the downtown cityscape, beautiful setting sun rays, and music flowing into the sky. Our colorful mountains and hills are visible in the background, which add depth to the scene. This beautiful poster is a vivid and living representation of what we all know and love about the arts and the Silver State. On July 11, 2025, as part of Artown, Connor will be at Renown Regional Medical Center’s Mack Auditorium, First Floor, from 4pm – 5pm for an artist’s reception. This event is admission free. As we celebrate this milestone 30^th anniversary Artown, we also celebrate the determination, artistry, and achievements of our 2025 poster artist, Connor Fogal. You can view Connor’s poster at www.artown.org.

Beth Macmillan is the Executive Director of Artown, one of the largest arts and culture festivals in the western United States, offering over 500 events with a wide range of artistic disciplines, including music, dance, theater, visual arts, literature, and more.

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