Q&A with Chelsey Farris, US Open theme artist

I was approached mid-February by Carrie Ehorn, USTA director of pro tennis marketing, after she came across my work online. She recruited me to create concepts that were then voted on by a committee. There is an application available for artists to submit their portfolios each year to be considered, but most artists who get picked are scouted by Carrie.

Why did you decide to go for it? 

You don’t say no to the US Open!

When you found out you had been chosen, what was your reaction?

Because I prioritized involving the US Open marketing team throughout the entire process, I had an inclination pretty early on I was the top contender. So when they were able to officially tell me I’d been chosen it was exciting, but it also felt a little like relief. It felt like we could finally celebrate together.

Could you talk a bit about the creative process and the significance of the design to you? 

I read articles about the US Open to understand the history. Watched interviews of players to learn about key figures and the future of the sport. Researched tennis social media to better understand tennis culture. Looked at art from the other Grand Slam tournaments. And reviewed case studies from past theme artists to understand how the art gets used each year.

You called this design work for the US Open a “dream project.” Why is that?

I’ve daydreamed about projects of this scale for a respected institution with global influence, but I thought it would take me a few more years to get here. So that’s been a dream come true. Also, being able to collaborate with the team and bounce ideas off one another to create something we love has been amazing.

Will you be attending the US Open?

I will be attending the US Open! I have the privilege of attending the opening ceremonies. I’ve never been to a major sporting tournament, so I’m very excited to attend an event of this caliber but also to witness some of the best players in the world compete!

Your images are going to be transformed into 3D structures on-site at the US Open. What do you think it'll be like to see your work come to life in this manner?

I pitched the idea of 3D elements when creating the concept. It’s going to be amazing to see my work around the grounds, but I am most excited to see the 3D structures!

What’s the significance of representing your hometown of St. Louis and doing a design that is so far-reaching?

Missouri is often thought of as a flyover state by outsiders—I was told at a young age I’d need to move to a bigger city to be successful in a creative career. I’m honored to represent St. Louis, a city often overlooked.

You attended a US Open poster meet-and-greet at Dwight Davis Tennis Center in St. Louis. How did it go?

I really enjoyed meeting the players and the staff! St. Louis can sometimes feel small, so I love when you get to connect with new communities and expand your perception of St. Louis. Everyone was so friendly, and I was also very impressed with the skill of the players!

What advice would you give to young designers looking to make their impact in the creative industry?

Don’t worry if you can’t get a job at a cool design firm yet or your work looks a little amateur. Keep believing in your potential, keep creating new work and keep asking other creatives for feedback. Not having an ego and asking ‘dumb’ questions will get you a lot further a lot faster than you think.

To read a US Open behind-the-scenes article on Chelsey Farris, click here. To learn more about Farris’s theme-art design, click here. To shop the theme art collection, click here. For the US Open theme art landing page, click here.