Gulf Shores artist Tara McMeans is once again putting her creative stamp on one of Alabama’s most recognizable coastal traditions after being named the winner of the 53rd Annual National Shrimp Festival poster contest.

The victory marks the second time McMeans has won the highly competitive contest after entering for more than a decade, a news release said. Organizers announced the selection following this year’s judging process, which drew a record 44 entries from artists across Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Italy, Louisiana and Mississippi.

A panel of 40 committee members and judges met April 21 to evaluate the submissions before selecting McMeans’ mixed media design as the winning artwork.

“The variety and creativity of this year’s entries were incredible,” festival Chairman Rob Barnas said in the release. “We’re especially proud to see a talented local artist like Tara win and represent the festival with her work.”

McMeans, a graphic designer since 2000, earned a degree in commercial art from Faulkner State, now Coastal Alabama Community College. She is also the owner of Design, Print, Promote in Gulf Shores.

Her winning poster combines layers of old sheet music and newspaper clippings referencing the National Shrimp Festival throughout the past decade. Torn paper and magazine cutouts create the lettering while a shrimp painted with watercolor and acrylic using a palette knife serves as the centerpiece of the design.

“This year I wanted to create something unlike anything that has been done before,” McMeans said. “I still can’t quite believe it. I’m beyond honored to have my artwork once again featured in my community. It makes me feel so good to see it around town on t-shirts and in local establishments.”

The annual contest has become a tradition tied closely to the festival’s identity, with winning artwork featured prominently throughout Gulf Shores during the event and on official merchandise sold to thousands of visitors each year.

As the contest winner, McMeans will receive a $1,000 cash prize and will participate in a poster signing during the festival. Organizers said the location and time will be announced later.

Posters will go on sale beginning at 10 a.m. Oct. 8, opening day of the festival. Collectors are expected to seek out the pre-signed editions, which will be individually numbered to 100 and signed by McMeans.

The artwork also will appear on the festival’s official T-shirt and additional merchandise.

The National Shrimp Festival, one of the Gulf Coast’s largest annual events, draws hundreds of thousands of visitors to Gulf Shores each fall for four days of live music, food, art and coastal culture.

Additional details about festival activities, vendors and the music lineup will be announced in the coming months at https://myshrimpfest.com.