AJ Masthay, whose concert posters have been created for the Grateful Dead, Foo Fighters and other major acts, will welcome visitors to his West Hartford studio on Nov. 14 to explore his artwork and meet the artist.

By Mia Jaworski

The open studio will take place from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at 252 Park Road in West Hartford. The event welcomes local residents, artists, art enthusiasts and collectors.

Masthay has created concert posters and artwork for an extensive list of musicians, bands and festivals, including the Grateful Dead, Goose, Foo Fighters and Black Sabbath, as well as the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and Newport Jazz Festival.

His work has also been featured in a recent two-person exhibition at the Mattatuck Museum in Waterbury.

Masthay approaches concert posters as fine art, using traditional printmaking techniques to create pieces that extend beyond concert memorabilia.

“What many would consider posters, I’ve always treated as fine art, bringing materials and techniques traditionally reserved for a gallery setting into the concert arena,” Masthay writes on his website.

A graduate of the Hartford Art School, Masthay earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1997, majoring in printmaking with a minor in art history. He established his own letterpress studio in 2001 and is currently based in the Hartford area.

Outside the studio, Masthay’s interests include treasure hunting at local flea markets and natural history. He also maintains an extensive collection related to osteology, the study of bones.

The Nov. 14 open studio will give visitors an opportunity to view his prints, explore his workspace and meet the artist.

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