LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The countdown to the 2024 Kentucky Derby has begun!
Louisville artist and former professional baseball player for the Atlanta Braves, Richard Sullivan, has been selected as the Kentucky Derby Festival's official poster artist this year.
According to a news release, Sullivan’s image will also be featured on the festival’s official merchandise line, which includes colorful t-shirts, sweatshirts, glassware, mugs, and more.
The artwork will be unveiled next week.
“For more than 40 years, the Derby Festival’s Official Poster has been an iconic symbol that celebrates our favorite time of year,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival President & CEO. “Throughout the years, it has become a collector’s piece, and we look forward to sharing the 2024 design with our Festival fans.”
Sullivan was raised in Louisville, and went to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD). In 2008, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round as a junior and played six years of minor league baseball. In 2014, he returned to SCAD to finish his studies and received a BFA in Illustration.
According to officials, Sullivan’s artwork has been accepted into the permanent collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and has been exhibited at the Louisville Slugger Museum & Factory and the Kentucky Derby Museum.
In addition, his art has been featured nationally on MiLB.com, Fox Sports and Fox Sports South. More than a dozen Major League Baseball players collect his work.
“Art has always been a way for me to transcend boundaries and merge with the creative spirit,” Sullivan said. “I believe the Kentucky Derby Festival is a great example of how our own community transcends its boundaries and for a brief moment in the spring we all get to feel lighter and more connected to our amazing city.”
