22-year-old Calgarian, Brooklyn Payne is the artist behind the 2023 Stampede Poster artwork which was unveiled last week. The Poster depicts three Stampede Showriders in their distinctive western uniforms, performing their unique musical ride upon their horses.
When Payne was creating their artwork for the Poster Competition, they said they were inspired by what the Stampede stands for, and the Showriders themselves.
“My first inspiration was the idea of community, which is so central to the Calgary Stampede. The second was the image of the Showriders. There’s something theatrical about them – they put on performances all throughout the Stampede, and they wear a quite visually striking ensemble that I really wanted to try my hand at painting,” Payne said.
Calgary Stampede First Vice-Chair, Will Osler said that to have the 2023 Poster representing the Stampede Showriders, a dynamic team of young equestrians fits in perfectly with our commitment to supporting youth.
Payne is a 2022 graduate of the Alberta University of the Arts and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting with distinction. They are a recipient of the Board of Governors Graduating Student Award, which honours one student from each department at Alberta University of the Arts. Brooklyn is now focused on creating and showcasing their artwork throughout Calgary, Alberta and Canada.
“I want people to look at my poster and see the Stampede’s involvement in fostering the local community, especially young people. I’m speaking from experience when I say you don’t know how powerful community is until you’re involved in one.”
As the winning artist of the Youth Poster Competition, Payne received a $10,000 Dustin Peers Memorial Scholarship, funded by the Brandon Flock Foundation.
Youth across Alberta were invited to enter for their chance to design the 2023 Stampede Poster and participate in a youth achievement opportunity of a lifetime. Successful applicants participated in unique hands-on learning and development experiences, which included one-on-one time spent with local western artists and mentors.
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