Art and coffee have long been intertwined, from the art of roasting and brewing the perfect cup to latte art competitions.
But that’s not where the connection ends. As treasured third places, coffee shops serve as community hubs and centers of social life that spark creativity—and also offer platforms for local artists to showcase their work.
Sometimes, those connections even turn into direct collaborations. The Indianapolis-based Bovaconti Coffee launched a popular, limited-edition artist series in July 2022, wherein artists create designs for the shop’s to-go coffee cups. The resulting work has ranged from graffiti-inspired street art designs to illustrations of penguins for the holidays.
The artist series started with Bovaconti’s in-house designer. “It quickly grew into something far more impactful than we anticipated,” says owner Justin Jones. The shop has now worked with nine artists, including local artists like illustrator and graphic designer Maria Iqbal and portrait photographer Faith Blackwell.
Each artist rotation lasts until the cups run out, typically around two or three months. “This collaboration has deepened our connection with the community in a way that feels authentic and meaningful,” Jones says.
He adds that the impact is tangible and positive—and easy to implement. “People love seeing local artists’ artwork displayed in a local coffee shop—it creates such a positive, uplifting atmosphere. It also brings in new faces, whether it’s people supporting the artist or those who simply discover us through the buzz.”
Jones provides compensation to artists in the form of a small stipend and gift card, but says the biggest benefit to collaborators is having their artwork in the hands of thousands of our customers. Many share the latest cup designs on social media. “We’ve even noticed some people trying to collect the different cup designs, which adds an extra layer of excitement to each new release,” he says.
Creative Collaboration
But the collaborations haven’t just benefited the artists. They’ve also “absolutely” helped the business.
For any coffee shops considering implementing a similar program, Jones recommends keeping an open mind. “Each artist brings a unique perspective to their design, and that’s part of what makes the program so special,” he says. “While it’s important to maintain a consistent brand identity, giving artists creative freedom allows them to truly shine and connect with their audience in a meaningful way.”
Most designs have featured bright, cheerful colors, but with each artist’s signature style, from soft watercolors to bold geometric lines. “The diversity in the designs keeps the program fresh and authentic, and it’s a joy to see each artist’s individuality come to life while still maintaining the Bovaconti vibe,” Jones adds.
Larger brands like La Colombe have also featured artist designs on coffee bags, while Hawaii’s Big Island Coffee Roasters has partnered with artists to design everything from gift boxes to cappuccino cups and saucers. Holidays can be a particularly good opportunity for merchandise collaborations: For example, Okayama Kobo Bakery & Cafe, which operates locations in Southern California and Honolulu, celebrates Lunar New Year each year with a special-edition artist-designed tote bag.
In North Carolina, known for its pottery industry, coffee roasters have even partnered with ceramicists and potters to design custom coffee mugs. Take Little Waves Coffee Roasters in Durham, which collaborates with Ariel Pottery and Delores J. Hayes to make mugs for its Cocoa Cinnamon cafes. Or Durham’sCounter Culture Coffee, which works with local pottery companies like Asheville’s East Fork Pottery and Burlington’s Haand to design custom mugs.
“We love working with artists who are local to the areas where we work and live, and we hope this deepens the connection to our brand and appreciation for the coffee folks drink,” says Christy Duggan, Counter Culture’s marketing manager.
The coffee shop partners with artists in other ways, too, like providing spaces for pop-up sales. According to Duggan, such events tend to sell out quickly.
“No coffee is local in the U.S., except Hawaii, but the people and partners are, and collaborations can help tell that story,” she says.
