Painter Roger Mason Returns For The Third Time As The Festival Artist

Returning for his third year (2003, 2013, 2024) as the poster painting artist, Roger Mason presents the latest installment for Telluride Blues & Brews Festival. He created the artwork for the 10th, 20th and now the 30th annual posters.

If you don’t know the name Roger Mason, you should. You can spot him a mile away, he’s the guy on Telluride's Main Street from time to time standing next to an easel, brandishing brushes, resembling a dressed up Jackson Pollock, with splattered paint all over his denim overalls.

Mason is like the Leonardo of the streets of Telluride, Colorado... Many people use the phrase "blank canvas" metaphorically, but artist Roger Mason selects the New Sheridan Hotel year after year as his literal canvas and Telluride's Main Street as his personal atelier. Mason hails from New York's Hudson Valley and was trained at New York's Pratt Institute. He found his way to Telluride through music.

In addition to painting, he is also a renowned bass player and played for Peter Rowan at the Telluride Bluegrass Festival back in 1979.

In the 1990s, he toured in a trio with world-renowned violinist Itzhak Perlman playing to crowds at places like Wolf Trap and Tanglewood. Mason also played bass with The Band. Painting is musical to him, and they both intertwine and fuel each other in an artistic way.

His posters are available for purchase below and in our Merchandise Tent during the festival.