Jazz Fest Poster Appraisal

1996 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival Poster: 'Congo Square' by Richard Thomas

This is a framed limited edition commemorative poster from the 1996 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, titled 'Congo Square' and created by artist Richard Thomas. The artwork features a vibrant, stylized graphic depicting two drummers in the foreground against a deep indigo and golden background, with silhouette figures under a leafy canopy, celebrating the historical and cultural significance of Congo Square. The color palette is bold, utilizing primary colors (red, yellow, blue) and deep greens to create a high-contrast, energetic composition characteristic of Jazz Fest's visual identity. The poster is signed in the lower margin and likely numbered as part of a limited print run. It is housed in a large, professional-grade exhibition frame with a metallic gold-tone finish and double-matted with a teal-blue top mat and a thin white inner accent mat. Regarding condition, the paper appears flat with no obvious waving from humidity, and the colors remain saturated, suggesting it has been kept out of direct sunlight. There are some minor reflections and glares on the glass, but the print surface looks intact. The frame shows very minor edge wear consistent with careful display. The 1996 posters are highly collectible among jazz enthusiasts and fans of New Orleans regional art, representing a key moment in the festival's artistic history.