By Roxy Osborne

Eleven from Stranger Things and Ramona Flowers from Scott Pilgrim were just a couple of characters that filled the Crowne Plaza Airport Expo Center at the Amazing Art Expo.

Running from Jan. 9-11, the free event encouraged anime, Disney, comic and horror fans to suit up in cosplay and celebrate their favorite media. As the name of the convention implies, the event creates a space for artists to showcase their craft to like-minded individuals. Art prints, canvases and stickers were all available to purchase at the event.

In addition to art, Grey DeLise, the voice actress for Daphne from Scooby Doo, Derek Mears from Friday the 13th (2009) and DC’s Swamp Thing held meet-and-greets at the event.

Nick Meager, an organizer of the Amazing Art Expo, stated that the event has been running for eight years and works with 12 different artists. Meager estimates that around 4,000 to 10,000 fans attend each year.

From left, banners for voice actors Derek Mears, Marty Grabstein and Grey DeLisle overlook the Amazing Art Expo at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jan. 9, 2025. The actors held meet-and-greets with fans at the event. (Photo by Jai’Michael Anderson / The Louisville Cardinal)

New York artist Sean Carlson, right, signs artwork for a fan at the Amazing Art Expo at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Jan. 9, 2025. (Photo by Jai’Michael Anderson / The Louisville Cardinal)

University of Louisville students and staff receive bonuses

To start off the Spring 2026 semester with some fun, students and staff received free VIP tickets. Though VIP access typically costs $15, those who showed their U of L ID at the entrance were admitted an hour early. They also received a free 12-inch by 16-inch print.

“We noticed we don’t get a ton of college students at our shows,” Meager said. “We just thought it would be a fun way to try and give them access during the VIP hour. They’re usually pretty interested in the fandoms present.”

Other than financial reasons, Meager sees the bigger picture in promoting the event to younger audiences.

“We always have a bunch of different styles and it’s good for people to see you can actually be an artist–there’s a bit of a statement to that,” said Meagers.

Fandoms unite in human made art

From Star Wars to Alice in Wonderland, there’s a little something for everyone at the Amazing Art Expo. For students who may have missed the poster sale on campus last semester, this is the place to grab some quality art to decorate your walls.

Littered throughout the event are signs condemning art made with Artificial Intelligence, a practice criticized for taking the personal element out of the art making process. Meager explained that photos of art pieces are prohibited to prevent artist’s work being inserted into A.I. algorithms.

A sign signifies that art using Artificial Intelligence isn’t featured at the Amazing Art Expo, Jan. 9, 2026. (Roxy Osborne / The Louisville Cardinal)

“I think there’s a necessity to keeping the human element,” Meagers said. “People realize it’s taking jobs, but I feel like artists are often an under looked aspect of that. There’s a lot of work and effort put into these designs.”

Photo by Jai’Michael Anderson / The Louisville Cardinal