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A retro look in the MN State Fair's future

Posted at 7:25 PM on February 1, 2011 by Marianne Combs
Filed under: Design, Printmaking

"Corn" by Steve Thomas - Image copyright Pioneer Press

The Minnesota State Fair has chosen Steve Thomas of Lino Lakes to design the 2011 poster and commemorative art.

"Mars" by Steve Thomas

Steve Thomas' work as an illustrator is striking to behold, combining retro graphic style with often hyper-futuristic imagery. Thomas' sense of humor is everpresent in his portfolio, designing travel posters for other planets in the solar system, and propaganda posters for computer games like Pac Man and Frogger.

Frogger by Steve Thomas

You can see how Thomas' art might lend itself to the state fair in some of his work for the Saint Paul Pioneer Press:

"Revolution" by Steve Thomas - Image copyright Pioneer Press

This year marks the first time the Minnesota State Fair has gone about choosing its artist through a public call for submissions. Thomas was one of five finalists selected from over 80 candidates.

Thomas' original art for the State Fair will be unveiled at the fairgrounds in June and displayed at the Fine Arts Center during the fair's 12-day run.