For Jamie Mixon, the journey from a young art enthusiast in Jackson, Mississippi, to an accomplished graphic designer with a portfolio spanning decades, has been nothing short of extraordinary. Now, a collection of her work is set to be on display at the Cullis Wade Depot on the Mississippi State University campus, featuring 75 posters dating back to 2004.
Mixon’s career has been a blend of art and music. Over the years, she has designed posters for a wide array of artists, from legendary bands like Fleetwood Mac, The Rolling Stones, and Motley Crue, to contemporary stars such as Taylor Swift, Morgan Wallen, Dolly Parton, and Zach Bryan.
“This has been a huge ride for me doing these posters,” Mixon said. “I’ve been so lucky. I really feel like, you know, how could this have fallen into my lap? But it’s kind of a long story. It didn’t just happen suddenly.”
Mixon’s journey began in college, where she started creating concert posters through connections she made on campus. A Mississippi State graduate and lifelong artist, Mixon had always been passionate about drawing, a skill she nurtured from childhood.
“As a child, I spent a lot of time drawing, and in high school, I knew I was going to be an art major,” Mixon said. “I spent a lot of time in my room drawing album covers. I loved music.”
Her passion for both art and music led her to Music Maker Productions, a student organization that brought major artists to MSU. Mixon was invited to become the poster artist for the group, merging her love of art with graphic design.
“I loved art, and I was doing some graphic design, but it was a way to merge art and graphic design. We ended up doing some crazy concerts during my stint there,” she said. “We had Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Linda Ronstadt, Waylon Jennings, Earth, Wind & Fire, Peter Frampton…we had some really big concerts, and I got to do those posters while I was in college.”
After graduating, Mixon’s experience set her apart in the design world.
“I had a full portfolio, which was pretty unique and special at that moment, because people weren’t expecting that for a kid coming out of college.”
Mixon went on to teach at Mississippi State for 29 years, coordinating the graphic design emphasis area until her retirement in 2020. Yet, her work as a poster artist never wavered. She continues to create about eight posters a year, with Simmons Bank Arena in Little Rock, Arkansas, among her clients. There, her posters are prominently displayed, and she has had the thrill of presenting them personally to artists like James Taylor.
“I have all these pictures of them holding my posters. It’s such a thrill for me. In fact, I got to present one to James Taylor. So, I have a picture of me and James Taylor, and I am dying,” she said. “At that moment, I was just going back to my little 15-year-old self where I was drawing James Taylor in my bedroom.”
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