Cottonwood Art Festival unveils Fall 2026 poster by Tony Paraná

Cottonwood Art Festival has revealed its Fall 2026 commemorative poster featuring Tony Paraná’s Circle of Life, an original mixed-media work that will anchor the festival’s visual identity in Richardson, Texas, on Oct. 3-4. The piece centers on identity, transformation and presence, and Paraná will be onsite for attendees.

Why it matters: - The Fall 2026 poster is the festival’s signature visual and helps shape how visitors experience Cottonwood Art Festival before they arrive. - Tony Paraná’s selection puts a personal, symbolic work at the center of one of Texas’ long-running juried art festivals. - The poster also reinforces Cottonwood Art Festival’s tradition of featuring its artist-of-the-season in the event’s visual identity.

What happened: - Cottonwood Art Festival unveiled its official Fall 2026 commemorative poster featuring Circle of Life by Featured Artist Tony Paraná. - The poster was announced for the Oct. 3-4, 2026 festival at Cottonwood Park in Richardson, Texas. - Paraná will be onsite during the festival so visitors can meet the artist and see his work in person.

The details: - Circle of Life centers on a woman surrounded by flowers, butterflies and other natural elements. - The woman holds a white feather and looks directly at the viewer. - Paraná said the feather represents peace and presence. - Paraná described the work as a reflection on identity, transformation and the experiences that shape a person over time. - The circle in the composition represents learning, change and the arrival of new versions of ourselves. - The woman at the center represents creation and the place where life begins. - The flowers throughout the figure represent beauty and innocence at the start of life, alongside scars and experiences accumulated over time. - Paraná said beauty and love remain even as life changes people. - Paraná is a self-taught Brazilian artist based in Houston. - His process for Circle of Life used fabric, acrylic, ink, pigments and pastels on wood. - The work combines rough surfaces and layered textiles as part of the visual narrative. - Paraná was born in Bahia, Brazil. - His work is shaped by culture, family, community and lived experience. - Paraná has also spent years creating arts opportunities through education and community programs in Texas. - Dianna Lawrence, Superintendent of Community Events and Festival Director for the City of Richardson, said each season’s Featured Artist gives Cottonwood a new visual story. - Lawrence said Circle of Life is vibrant, deeply personal and reveals new details with each viewing. - The artwork serves as the centerpiece of the Fall 2026 commemorative poster. - Cottonwood Art Festival will feature 180 artists, a food court, a craft beer garden, entertainment on two stages and children’s art stations.

Between the lines: - The festival is leaning into storytelling as much as exhibition, using the poster to frame the event around themes of personal growth and artistic transformation. - Paraná’s mixed-media approach fits a festival identity built around texture, color and visual discovery. - The emphasis on community arts programs suggests Cottonwood continues to connect the festival brand with education and local outreach, not just sales and attendance.

What's next: - Cottonwood Art Festival will take place Oct. 3-4, 2026, at Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Beltline Rd, Richardson, Texas. - Festival hours are Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - More information about the festival is available at festival details. - More about Tony Paraná is available on his Instagram page. - Cottonwood Art Festival also maintains social accounts on Instagram, Facebook, YouTube and Pinterest.

The bottom line: - Cottonwood Art Festival is using Tony Paraná’s Circle of Life to set the tone for its Fall 2026 show with a poster built around identity, change and artistic detail.