The Adelaide Fringe 2027 poster has arrived, and it’s a tactile celebration of imperfection. Adelaide-based illustrator Cécile Gariépy has won this year’s poster competition with an artwork that brings together a cast of hand-shaped clay figures, their pressed and pinched forms retaining the marks of their making.
The winning artwork, created for the theme ‘Fringe for everyBODY’, features figures that reflect the diversity of real bodies. Laughing, playing and reaching towards one another, they celebrate the connections between performers, audiences and the people behind the scenes who bring the festival together.
“When reading the brief for the 2027 Fringe poster, my immediate thoughts went to building something with clay,” Gariépy said. “There was something about the material that felt right straight away: it’s tactile, imperfect, and shaped entirely by hand, qualities that helped me create figures reflecting the diversity of real bodies.”
Adelaide audiences may already recognise Gariépy’s work in murals in Blackwood and at Brightstar Brewing in Thebarton. These local projects bring her playful characters into everyday spaces, a connection she now carries into the Fringe poster.
Originally from Montréal, Gariépy has more than 15 years of experience working with international publishers and cultural institutions including The New York Times. Her practice spans editorial and commercial illustration, publishing, public art and large-scale murals.
“I’ve always loved making characters that feel wonky and human, and clay let me take that desire further,” she said. “All the characters carry the marks of being pressed and pinched into form. Their imperfections aren’t flaws; they’re the point. They make each of them feel like an individual person, with their own personality and presence.”
A competitive field
The 2027 competition attracted 360 entries, including 281 from South Australia and 24 international entries from 13 countries. Gariépy receives a $10,000 cash prize thanks to Adelaide University, as well as free artist registration held for use in 2028.
Adelaide Fringe CEO Marc Carnes said there’s something special about seeing a new Fringe poster for the first time. “It’s a little invitation to start imagining the events you’ll see, the people you’ll go with and the experiences you haven’t discovered yet,” he said.
“Cécile’s work finds so much personality in people and the ways we connect. That’s a lovely starting point for ‘Fringe for everyBODY’, because Fringe is made by all of us, whether we’re on stage, behind the scenes or in the audience.”
The winning artwork will feature across Adelaide Fringe posters, signage, digital channels, merchandise and marketing materials. It arrives alongside a brand refresh for Adelaide Fringe, setting the tone for a fresh look that audiences will see across all things Fringe from the 2027 season.
To celebrate the poster reveal, Adelaide Fringe is offering 25% off Fringe Memberships for 24 hours. To receive the discount code, sign up to Fringe eNews or comment on the poster reveal post on Adelaide Fringe’s Instagram or Facebook account.
Adelaide Fringe 2027 runs from 19 February to 21 March 2027.
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