Reaching goals: Artist Kevin A. Short waited decades to be selected to create official Balloon Fiesta poster

Oct. 2—Growing up in Albuquerque, Kevin A. Short dreamed of creating the official poster for the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta.

It was another goal he wanted to reach, as he was one of the youngest to pilot a hot air balloon at the age of 16 during the fiesta's early years.

To create the poster was a pipe dream — one that seemed out of reach.

He was so positive it would never happen, that he gave up the dream a few years ago.

Until 2023, when Balloon Fiesta officials reached out to the now California-based painter to create the official poster.

"It was a surprise," he says. "The deadline was set, and I had a few months to create a piece of art that the whole world will see."

Short is known internationally for his work as a painter and printmaker, where he captures landscapes with the ocean nearby.

Short's artwork for the 2023 Balloon Fiesta poster depicts a scene of balloons floating over Albuquerque, with notable landmarks such as the Rio Grande and Sandia Mountains in the background.

Landing the coveted job of creating the official serigraph poster is a full circle of sorts for Short, as he has ties to the fiesta.

In addition to being one of the youngest pilots to fly in the event; his mother Gail Short was a Balloon Fiesta board member for five years and a past president of the organization in 1984.

Short and his family moved to Albuquerque when he was in high school and lived in the North Valley.

"We used to live where Paseo del Norte crosses the Rio Grande," he says. "Our house was plowed under when Paseo was expanded."

He went to school at Cibola High School and went to the University of New Mexico for a year and a half before transferring to California to attend art school.

Short never imagined a career in art — as he is the son of a rocket scientist.

During his freshman year in high school, he wanted to be a chemist.

Until he had a blow out with his teacher.

Discouraged, he looked for another avenue that would suffice.

"I had a great teacher, and she was encouraging," he says. "She knew a couple of well-known painters. She said if I wanted to be serious about being a painter, that I should go to college in California at the Art Center College of Design.

"It was something I wasn't going to do," he admits. "I had a natural aptitude for it. Once I threw out the chemistry books, I knew this was my path. My parents were supportive yet very resistant. They told me I needed to be serious about it."

Short, formally trained in oil painting, studied at the University of New Mexico, Pepperdine University and the Art Center College of Design. His passion for ballooning and art led him to take his first job at the AERCO Hot AIR Balloon Port, under the mentorship of ballooning pioneer Bob Ruppenthal.

Together, Short and Ruppenthal designed the iconic AERCO logo and constructed the experimental hot air balloon that would become the first of the series of the celebrated "Fiesta" balloons you see flying today.

While art was a viable avenue, Short remained true to his first love — hot air balloon piloting.

He was the youngest commercial pilot in the world at the age of 16.

"I had a pilot's license and that was super rare back then," he says. "Because I was 'the kid,' I felt like I had to try harder to prove myself. I was a knucklehead when I wasn't flying, but once I stepped onto the field, I became serious about it all."

The collectible poster is available for purchase at Balloon Fiesta's Gift Shop, located at 4401 Alameda Blvd. NE, and online at balloonfiestastuff.com.

Guests will be able to purchase this art at Official Balloon Fiesta Merchandise Tents during the event as well.

This year's poster is the first non-"Looney Tunes" artwork following a five-part series leading up to the 50th event.