Cottonwood Art Festival Reveals Fall 2026 Commemorative Poster Featuring Tony Paraná's Circle of Life

Original mixed-media work created for the festival explores presence, transformation and the journey toward becoming different versions of ourselves.

RICHARDSON, TX, UNITED STATES, September 14, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- Cottonwood Art Festival has revealed its official Fall 2026 commemorative poster featuring Circle of Life, an original work created for the festival by Featured Artist Tony Paraná.

Rich with color, texture and symbolism, Circle of Life centers on a woman surrounded by flowers, butterflies and other natural elements, her gaze meeting the viewer as she holds a white feather. The imagery reflects Paraná’s exploration of identity, transformation and the experiences that shape us throughout our lives.

“Circle of Life is a deep look inside of who you are, where you are and the moments that count,” Paraná said. “The feather represents peace and presence. I’m here.”

For Paraná, the circle represents more than a beginning and an end. It is the continuing process of learning, changing and encountering new versions of ourselves along the way. At the center of the composition, the woman represents creation and the place from which life begins.

The flowers layered throughout the figure carry another dimension of the story. Paraná describes them as representing the beauty and innocence with which people begin life, juxtaposed against the scars and experiences accumulated over time. Despite those changes, he says, the beauty and love carried within remain.

A self-taught Brazilian artist now based in Houston, Paraná works without strict boundaries between materials. For Circle of Life, he combined fabric, acrylic, ink, pigments and pastels on wood, allowing rough surfaces and layered textiles to become part of the visual narrative. Born in Bahia, Brazil, his work is deeply informed by culture, family, community and lived experience. He has also spent years creating opportunities for others to experience the arts through education and community programs in Texas.

“Each season, our Featured Artist gives Cottonwood a new visual story,” said Dianna Lawrence, Superintendent of Community Events and Festival Director for the City of Richardson. “Tony’s Circle of Life is vibrant, deeply personal and invites you to stop, look closer and discover a new detail each time. It beautifully reflects the connection between art, experience and the stories we carry with us.”

The original Circle of Life artwork serves as the centerpiece of the Fall 2026 Cottonwood Art Festival commemorative poster, continuing the festival’s tradition of showcasing the work of its Featured Artist in the visual identity of each spring and fall show.

Paraná will be onsite during the festival, giving visitors an opportunity to meet the artist and experience his work in person.

Location and Hours
📍 Cottonwood Park, 1321 W. Beltline Rd, Richardson, Texas
📅 October 3-4, 2026 open Saturday 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
🎨 Featuring 180 artists, food court, craft beer garden, entertainment on two stages, and children’s art stations

For more information about the festival, visit www.cottonwoodartfestival.com. To learn more about Tony Paraná and his work, follow on social media at www.instagram.com/tonyparana/.

About Cottonwood Art Festival
Cottonwood Art Festival is celebrating its 57th year and is a juried show ranked among the top fine art shows in the country. Local artists staged the first festival at the scenic Cottonwood Park in Richardson, Texas in its humble beginnings in 1969. Cottonwood has since established itself as an internationally award-winning signature art event and become a tradition within the community. The festival designed outreach programs as innovative tools to mentor students and broaden the interest in visual arts and bring the art world into classrooms.

Dianna Lawrence
City of Richardson
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Tony Paraná Selected As Fall 2026 Featured Artist For Cottonwood Art Festival in Richardson, Texas