More than 340 artists applied to be crowned as this year’s Surly Brewing “Featured Artist.” But only one prevailed: St. Paul-based illustrator, Adam Sward.
Sward will create the new design concepts for SurlyFest 2017, Darkness 2017, and Surly’s 12th anniversary beer in 2018. His art will be featured on everything from beer labels to T-shirts to posters.
Sward, who is also a tattoo artist at Hopkins’ Electric Dragonland, joins the ranks of past featured artists, such as Brandon Holt, Adam Turman, and Erica Williams. Sward joins the Surly team as a paid, freelance artist and is invited to judge the yearly search, according to a press release.
“The response this year was unbelievable, and we’re sort of in awe of all the talent we have in our backyard,” said Omar Ansari, founder and president of Surly in a press release. “Adam definitely earned this, and we can’t wait to see what he’s got in store for us and Surly Nation.”
