An Artistic Journey with Aaron Reed

By Ki Ki Hobbs

The Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce and the 2024 ArtiGras poster artist, Aaron Reed, are hoping to put a new twist on the commemorative artwork. When the Chamber’s Director of Events, Brian Elkins, was looking for someone to design this year’s poster, he knew he wanted an abstract artist, and Reed, a self-taught painter from Albany, Georgia, seemed like the perfect choice.

“When I found him, [his art style] was exactly what I was looking for,” Elkins says.

When the Chamber called and asked Reed if he would like to design this year’s commemorative poster, Reed says he had a two-word response: Of course. “Why would you say no?” he joked.

For Reed, the decision was a no-brainer. He says designing this year’s poster would be a great way to increase his exposure by putting his artwork in front of ArtiGras patrons who might be unfamiliar with his work. He also says it would be a great way to introduce ArtiGras fans to a different style of art.

“I really wanted to push the envelope. To do something totally different. To look at art in a different light,” he explains. In recent years, many of the ArtiGras commemorative posters had a distinctly tropical theme with art featuring palm trees, flowers, animals, or waterways.

“They were beautiful pieces,” Reed says, but he wanted to create something patrons might not already have in their own collections.

That’s a sentiment echoed by Elkin, who says it’s one of the main reasons the Chamber picked Reed to design this year’s poster.

“I didn’t want us to stick with the same tropical theme,” Elkin says. “I wanted it to be very different looking.”

“I’m excited to see what people think and really excited to bring more light to ArtiGras. In return, I’d just like people to meet me and know me as an artist and get a chance to collect my work,” Reed says.

Reed first began exhibiting work at ArtiGras back in 2011 after a friend and fellow artist told him about the festival. Now, years later, Reed fondly looks back at his first ArtiGras experience. He says he can still remember where his first-ever booth was located: “Right in front of the Cardinals training facility.” He also vividly remembers the festival atmosphere, saying he was surprised by the attendees’ enthusiasm for art.

“I couldn’t believe how early people got to the show,” he says. He remembered as soon as the gates opened, people were rushing inside so they could stroll through the festival, meet artists, and of course, purchase some art.

“People were buying like crazy,” he says. He later added, “It was a big deal at that time. I mean, it still is. I want to support my family.”

Reed describes that time in his career as a “grind,” saying he was working hard so he could sell enough artwork to support himself and his family. ArtiGras, according to Reed, was a major financial boon. He called it one of his best shows and says he remembered thinking, “I want to be a part of this show every single year.” So far, he’s made that plan into a reality, returning to ArtiGras for 13 consecutive years.

Since his first exhibit at ArtiGras, Reed says he’s grown a lot as an artist, and he’s constantly looking to evolve. While his earlier works were extremely detailed pieces, he says the work he’s putting out now has a stronger focus on movement, color, and texture.

“Life requires change and adjustment,” says Reed. And that belief is prevalent in his art, where he explores the journey of life and how that journey molds us into who we are.

On his website, he says life requires “change and adjustment.” That belief is prevalent in his art, where he explores the journey of life and how that journey molds us into who we are. His 2024 poster art entitled “Artistic Journey” reflects those themes, and if it sounds familiar, it’s likely because that theme has inspired this year’s marketing campaign for ArtiGras.

“We saw what he was bringing. From there, we sat around as a staff trying to determine how we wanted to incorporate it,” says Elkin.

This year’s marketing materials for ArtiGras feature a colorful, mosaic pattern, meant to look like a walkway. Many of the graphics you’ll see on social media and the ArtiGras website also feature arrows, adding to the theme of movement.

For Reed, being chosen to design this year’s ArtiGras poster, a collectible piece of art, feels like hitting the lottery. He hopes his journey inspires more young artists to exhibit their work at ArtiGras and similar outdoor festivals, saying it’s a great way to get their art into the hands of art enthusiasts.

“You just have to keep working and be nice to people and when it’s your time, it’s your time,” he says.

General admission tickets to ArtiGras are available online at www.ArtiGras.org for the advance ticket price of $15; the gate price is $20. Children 12 and under can enter for free with a maximum of two children per adult.

In addition, volunteer opportunities with ArtiGras are still available. It takes over 600 volunteers to successfully run the festival, and there are many openings to be a part of the fun from assisting in the chef showcase area to working in artist relations. Students can also earn community service hours when they volunteer at the festival. You can learn more about volunteering at the ArtiGras website – www.ArtiGras.org.

This amazing outdoor art event is presented by Tampa General Hospital and University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine. It is produced by the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce, a not-for-profit organization serving more than 10 municipalities from Tequesta to Mangonia Park. For additional information, visit www.ArtiGras.org or contact the Palm Beach North Chamber of Commerce at (561) 746-7111.