Featured Artist

The Des Moines Arts Festival has a featured artist each year who creates original artwork for the annual commemorative poster. The posters can be purchased, rolled or framed, at the Festival Merchandise Shops. A few past posters are still available for purchase, check them out here.

Lou Ann and Mary’s current bodies of work are inspired by the things that bring them joy: travel, nature, cosmic interconnections, and exploring the relationship between the inner and the outer.

They collaboratively build each piece as a journey that begins with a conversation. Their drawings start with the subject and basic outline for a piece. Lou Ann paints in the composition and structure of the piece, and then Mary goes in with graphite pencils, colored pencils, and pastels to flesh out the details.

Read More about Lou Ann and Mary.

2026 Commemorative Poster, Mirror Lake

The 2026 Commemorative Poster, Mirror Lake, is an original drawing featuring a calm, picturesque river nestled alongside colorful bluffs on a beautiful fall day.

The 2026 Commemorative Poster is available for purchase on our merchandise store.

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