RI Native’s Design Selected by FIFA for World Cup Poster

RI Native’s Design Selected by FIFA for World Cup Poster

Warren native John Rego is an illustrator, fine artist, and educator. His work has been tapped by The New York Times, Oxford University Press, and many others. He has held shows at many of the top galleries and museums nationally and internationally.

On Tuesday, FIFA announced that Rego's design in collaboration with the Massachusetts College of Art & Design (MassArt) was selected as the Official FIFA World Cup 26 Boston Host City Poster.

 

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GoLocal caught up with Rego and chatted about his Rhode Island connections and his work:

 

1) Tell us about your Rhode Island connections

Yes, I was born in Providence and grew up in Warren. I attended Saint Philomena School in Portsmouth from kindergarten to 8th grade and Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth [Massachusetts].

 

2) Where did you attend college?

 I went to Massachusetts College of Art in Boston. I graduated in 2018 with a BFA in Illustration. I received a MFA in Illustration as a Visual Essay from the School of Visual Arts in New York in 2021.

 

3) Is Rhode Island an inspiration for the poster? If so, how?

The poster is predominantly inspired by the Boston Harbor, the architecture, and some landmarks of the city. However, I wanted to tie in imagery from the rest of New England on the border. The bottom section of the border features two boats and a lighthouse, drawing inspiration from Narragansett Bay.

On the top section of the border, you can see a factory building, hinting at New England's (especially Rhode Island's) industrial past. I'd also say being from the Ocean State a lot of my work is inspired by maritime imagery. This can definitely be seen throughout the poster. 

 

4) Are you a big soccer fan? If so, who do you root for?

I closely follow American football and hockey, but I always tune into the World Cup. I will be supporting the U.S. and Portugal. 

 

5) What are we not asking you that we should know?

The poster was made in collaboration with the Massachusetts College of Art and Design, students from the school's Illustration Department, and FIFA. Students were invited to a brainstorming session where they pitched themes and imagery that encapsulated the city of Boston. I took these suggestions and created several rough sketches.

After another meeting, we refined the most successful sketch and came up with a design that we thought was appropriate. I then took the sketch and created the final illustration drawing it with ink and coloring it digitally. The poster will be available on FIFA's website and at Gillette Stadium.

 

The Poster

The poster will be available for sale leading up to the World Cup 26™ games and the image will also be showcased on a series of official gear.

 

See more of Rego's work on his website: johnrego.com