International Musician And Painter Honored With 33-Year Festival Tradition
SOMERSET, KY (June 23rd, 2026)— For 33 years, the Master Musicians Festival has celebrated a unique tradition that bridges music, visual art, and community by selecting a Featured Artist whose work helps tell the story of each year’s festival.
The Master Musicians Festival is proud to announce that internationally acclaimed musician and painter Jack Browning has been selected as the 2026 Featured Artist.
The honor is especially fitting, as Browning will not only be recognized for his visual artwork but will also perform during the 33rd Annual Master Musicians Festival on July 17-18 in Somerset.
“One of the things we love most about this tradition is that it allows us to celebrate artists in multiple forms,” said Tiffany Finley, Executive Director of the Master Musicians Festival. “Jack is an incredible songwriter and performer, but he is also a gifted visual artist. When we saw the piece he created for this year’s festival, we knew it perfectly captured the spirit of our community.”
Born in London, Browning has earned recognition both as a touring musician and a painter. His artwork has been exhibited internationally, while his music blends folk, Americana, and roots influences. His dual creative talents made him a natural choice for the festival’s long-standing Featured Artist tradition.
For his 2026 contribution, Browning created a painting honoring the railroad workers whose labor helped build Somerset and shape the region’s history. The artwork depicts a railroad worker holding a banjo, symbolizing the connection between the people who built the community and the music and culture that continue to define it today. “The piece immediately felt like Somerset,” Finley said. “It honors the hardworking men and women whose efforts helped build this community while also reflecting the musical traditions that are at the heart of our festival.”
Since its founding in 1994, the Master Musicians Festival has selected a Featured Artist each year. The artwork becomes the centerpiece of the festival’s official lineup T-shirt and is auctioned live during festival weekend. Together, the collection represents more than three decades of festival history and has become one of MMF’s most cherished traditions.
The annual artwork auction serves an important purpose as well. Proceeds from the auction support the Master Musicians Festival, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, and help fund future festivals.
“Every year, this tradition reminds us that the festival is about more than music,” Finley said. “It’s about celebrating creativity, preserving culture, and telling the stories of the people who make our community special. Jack’s artwork does exactly that.”
Browning’s original painting will be auctioned during the 2026 Master Musicians Festival on July 17 and 18. The winning bidder will receive the original artwork, while festival attendees will also have the opportunity to purchase the official 2026 lineup T-shirt featuring the piece.
The 33rd Annual Master Musicians Festival will take place July 17-18, 2026, in Somerset, Kentucky and will feature headliner Trampled By Turtles along with a diverse lineup of Americana, folk, bluegrass, country, and roots artists.
For tickets and more information, visit www.mastermusiciansfestival.org.
