Our Farm Aid 2026 festival may be over, but that doesn’t mean the memories have to be. Farm Aid 2026 merch is available in our store, including a limited-edition screen printed poster. We caught up with the artist, Chloe Alexander, to talk about inspiration, process and the story behind the print.
Tell us about yourself and your art.
I am primarily a printmaker, but my work extends into other media, including drawing, painting, mixed media and public art. I really enjoy artwork as a storytelling device, and a lot of my images hint at a broader narrative, like the illustrations that accompany the text in a storybook. My art is also inspired by my rural upbringing, and elements from nature, including plants and insects commonly found in the southern landscape.
What does your process look like from the first idea to the finished design?
I start by doing lots of research, gathering images for inspiration and putting elements together to see what works, what doesn’t work and to get a general direction for the composition. I may do this a few times until I land on an image that feels right. From there, I make refinements and adjustments until it’s complete.
What was your favorite part of designing the Farm Aid 2026 screenprint?
My favorite part was gathering inspiration for the design. I love creating work that is a little different from my everyday practice, and this project gave me an opportunity to explore images related to agriculture and farming that I usually would not encounter. I really enjoyed the process, and it even led me to ideas that I plan to incorporate in future work.
Are there any details in the poster that viewers might miss?
The flowers in the design are native to Virginia and support pollinators. I also included the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, which is the state insect of Virginia.
Tell us about the actual printing process with Mirror Image and Andy MacDougall — did anything surprise you?
Getting to print with Andy was such a great experience. He knows so much and is very skilled, and I learned so much in a very short time. I also loved getting to print the posters at Mirror Image. Everyone there was so kind and welcoming, and it was so impressive seeing and learning more about the shop and all the equipment they use. Overall, it was a very positive experience, and I’m so grateful that I had the opportunity to take on this project.
Check out the screen printing process:
First color, light green
Second color, yellow
Third color, light blue
Fourth color, green
Fifth color, red
Sixth color, tan
Seventh color and details, black. The final poster
