One of our favorite festival traditions is working with artists to produce the official festival poster. Each year we’re amazed at the incredible vision and talent that each individual brings to their images. This year is no different!
We’re excited to introduce you to the 18th official Richmond Folk Festival poster artist, Cassandra Kim. She joins a storied group of artists that includes Mickael Broth, Chris Milk, Hamilton Glass and more! (See all past 17 posters).
Cassandra’s poster art will also grace the official Richmond Folk Festival beer can brewed by Hardywood Park Brewing Company. Hardywood Folk Festbier (5.4% ABV) pays homage to the modern-day German-style Oktoberfest celebration beer. Brewed with Munich and Vienna malts, this lager beer promotes a full body and malt roundness that is balanced with moderate bitterness from traditional German Tettnang and Spalt hops. Folk Festbier will be available on draft all festival weekend, and in cans with Cassandra’s artwork at Richmond-area Krogers.
The new poster was unveiled on September 21, and will be available for sale at the Folk Festival at the two Plan 9 merchandise tent locations. After the festival, starting October 11, it will be available to purchase at Plan 9 Music in Carytown.
Original Poster Artwork on Auction!
We will also be auctioning the original art created by Cassandra to benefit the Festival! Start bidding now! The artwork is acrylic and oil on masonite (18in. x 24in.) framed in a gold wood frame 22" x 28". This is a rare opportunity to own the original artwork from one of our posters! The auction will close Wednesday, October 12, 2022.
Get to know more about Cassandra Kim and her work on the festival poster!
Tell us a little bit about you and your background. Are you from Richmond?
I’m a Virginia native and I’ve been a professional artist for almost twenty years, and I transitioned to working with galleries about four years ago. I like to work in acrylic and oil and my pieces are animal-based paintings with a surrealistic twist, typically inspired by art of the past. I like to work with vintage/antique frames and reclaimed wood, and repair and restore them myself. I am married with twin five-year-old girls and am constantly trying to balance painting with parenthood. My studio is in my dining room so it’s a bit of a funny place to create in the midst of the happy chaos of small children, but it surprisingly works great for me. I grew up in Leesburg, Virginia and first came to Richmond as an art student at VCU in 1999. After I graduated I moved back to northern Virginia for a bit and then after I got married I came back in 2013. I lived up to the old local saying, “You never really leave Richmond forever.”
Have you attended the Festival before, if so any good memories or thoughts about it?
I’m a huge fan of the Folk Festival. It always feels like it’s officially Fall here when the festival kicks off. I, unfortunately, haven’t been able to attend the last couple of years due to covid, but I have so many fond memories of meeting up with friends and family, eating yummy food, and listening to fantastic music. I can’t wait for my husband and I to bring our kids this year.
What was your inspiration/thought process for the Folk Fest design?
I seriously geeked out at the chance to create the poster because I love going to the festival as well as I have so much respect for the previous artists that worked on the poster in past years. I wanted my poster to be my pop-surrealistic ode to some of my favorite illustrators of the past. The back circle has a Maxfield Parrish style gradient, and the James River Railway Bridge under the circle is playing on similar design elements I saw in Leyendecker and Rockwell illustrations on their covers of Saturday Evening Posts. I wanted to push a vintage vibe with this, so I hand lettered all of the big type. I also love animals and enjoy the challenge of painting them jamming out as a musical trio in some classy clothes (the paws playing the instruments were the most challenging part). Overall, I hope the feeling you get from this is fun, because that’s what the festival is, fun and welcome to all.
What are some of your favorite things to do in Richmond?
This is such a wonderful city! I adore taking my kids to all the parks and museums like: Lewis Ginter, Maymont, Pony Pasture, VMFA, Science Museum, and the Poe Museum. I also love the food scene, we’re lucky here with so many brilliant chefs. The options to kick back with a quality drink and amazing food are endless here.
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The 2022 Official Richmond Folk Festival Poster will be available for sale during the festival at Plan 9 CDs and Merchandise tents. After the festival, they will be available at Plan9 Music in Carytown.