LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Louisville artist and former Atlanta Braves baseball player Richard Sullivan has been selected as the Kentucky Derby Festival’s official poster artist for 2024.

The festival announced Sullivan’s selection in a news release. In addition to the poster, Sullivan’s image will be featured on the festival’s 2024 official merchandise line, which includes colorful t-shirts, sweatshirts, glassware, mugs and more.

Sullivan’s artwork will be unveiled next week.

“For more than 40 years, the Derby Festival’s Official Poster has been an iconic symbol that celebrates our favorite time of year,” said Matt Gibson, Kentucky Derby Festival president and CEO. “Throughout the years, it has become a collector’s piece, and we look forward to sharing the 2024 design with our Festival fans.”

Raised in Louisville, Sullivan attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, where he also played baseball. In 2008, he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the 11th round as a junior and played six years of minor league baseball.

Sullivan returned to SCAD in 2014 to finish his studies, earning a BFA in Illustration. His artwork has been accepted into the permanent collection of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and the Yogi Berra Museum & Learning Center. His work has also been exhibited locally at the Louisville Slugger Museum and the Kentucky Derby Museum.

“Art has always been a way for me to transcend boundaries and merge with the creative spirit,” Sullivan said. “I believe the Kentucky Derby Festival is a great example of how our own community transcends its boundaries and for a brief moment in the spring, we all get to feel lighter and more connected to our amazing city.”

Sullivan has become a popular artist in the sports world. His work has been featured nationally on MiLB.com, Fox Sports and Fox Sports South. Over a dozen Major League Baseball players collect his work, including Hall of Famer Braves pitcher Tom Glavine. Sullivan has created paintings for the Atlanta Braves, the Atlanta Falcons and collaborated with Topps for its Momentum Rising card set, which features the artwork of former athletes.

Woodford reserve commissioned Sullivan in 2020 and 2021 to create artwork for the commemorative Woodford Reserve Kentucky Derby Bottle.

Since 1981, the Derby Festival has featured artists for its annual poster artwork. Peter Max’s expressionistic “Bluegrass Pegasus” first launched the series, and a stylistic and geographical mix of artists have been showcased over the years.

Fans can still purchase most of the previous artwork on the Kentucky Derby Festival’s website.