About
Tom Shaw, a Philadelphia-area native now based in Wilmington, North Carolina, has carved out a unique and vibrant niche in the world of rock poster art. A fan of live music from an early age, Shaw began his career in graphic design while studying Marketing at the University of North Carolina Wilmington. In 2015, he expanded into screen-printed concert posters and art prints, quickly gaining acclaim for his dynamic designs.
Shaw’s posters are known for their unique, hand-pulled quality, often using the split fountain printing process, making each print distinct. His work has earned numerous awards and accolades over the years, and he is consistently finding new ways to think outside of the box as a printmaker.
As his multifaceted graphic design business has grown, charity and goodwill have stayed a top priority. Tom is an official 1% for the Planet member, and his charitable contributions to date have totaled over $60,000. Tom is also an active board member for The Rock Poster Society, a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the art of rock posters and their artists.
ACCOLADES
PRESS | "Local artist designs poster for presidential nominee", Port City Daily, October 2024
PRESS | "The Takeaway: In Print", Greater Wilmington Business Journal, September 2023
VIDEO/PRESS | "Tom Shaw is one of music’s most popular concert poster designers", WECT News 6, July 2023
ART OF THE WEEK | Expressobeans.com, May 2022. Concert poster for Widespread Panic's 3 night run in Wilmington, NC on May 6-8, 2022
AWARD | Greater Wilmington Business Journal, September 2021. MADE Award - Category: Arts
ART OF THE WEEK | Expressobeans.com, July 2021. Concert poster for Widespread Panic's 3 night run in Wilmington, NC on July 16-18, 2021
ART OF THE WEEK | Expressobeans.com, September 2019. Concert poster for Umphrey's McGee's show in Wilmington, NC on August 18, 2019
ART OF THE WEEK | Expressobeans.com, May 2017. Concert poster for Umphrey's McGee in St. Augustine, FL on April 29, 2017
AWARD: "BEST OF" AD DESIGN | N2 Publishing, 2020. Print advertisement for Starcycle, Cedar Park TX
AWARD: "BEST OF" AD DESIGN | N2 Publishing, 2018. Print advertisement for South End Surf Shop, Wrightsville Beach, NC
PRESS | "Music's Poster Child", Greater Wilmington Business Journal, August 2020
PRESS | "T. Shaw Designs and Nourish NC Partner to Feed New Hanover Students", Plantation Life Magazine, November 2019
PRESS | "Limited edition ILM tank tops to help feed New Hanover kids as school season approaches", Port City Daily, August 2019
PRESS | "No longer in bands, Tom Shaw stays close to music by screen-printing show posters", Star News, May 2016
PUBLISHED ARTICLE | SONICBIDS BLOG: A Graphic Designer's Top Tips for Creating an Eye-Catching Gig Poster, May 2015