With the seventh-annual National Bell Festival kicking off 2026, the United States’ 250th year, we’re thrilled to announce Matthew Glick as our 2026 Official Festival Artist! Together with his wife Jennifer, the couple forms the dynamic duo comprising The 50/50 Company, a Delaware-based collaborative in illustration, screen printing, fashion, and craft. Products are handmade in a home studio with the help of four feline assistants, who inspire, join in, or wreak havoc on work, depending on the day.
Having been creating together for over 15 years, Matthew and Jennifer offer monthly releases in limited editions of American-made, original illustrations, which may be found at the Independence Visitor Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, along with many pop-up locations across the country – and now the National Bell Festival!
Matthew’s work, titled “Bell Kitty,” is a playful celebration of independence, with the Liberty Bell playing second fiddle to a cat mischievously dancing on top with a sparkler. The playful nature of the piece bridges the two and a half centuries from America’s founding to the present day. What’s more, The 50/50 Company takes pride in giving back to animal welfare groups by donating a portion of proceeds toward helping make life better for pets in need.
Image: Illustrator Matthew Glick screen prints an edition of 'Bell Kitty,' his original work. Courtesy: The 50/50 Company.
Image: Illustrator Matthew Glick with his original work entitled 'Bell Kitty.' Courtesy: The 50/50 Company.
What is screen printing?
Screen printing is a printing method that uses a fine mesh screen (traditionally made of silk or now polyester) that is blocked out using a stencil and stretched tightly over a frame. This allows ink to be placed on the screen and squeezed across, pressing the dye through the open areas of the mesh and leaving an imprint on an item below. The print is then dried or heat-cured to become a vibrant and durable piece of art. Even better, the screen can be reused! It’s one of the most popular ways to transfer a design and print graphics on materials like fabric, paper, plastic, glass, metal, and wood.
Love Matthew’s design for the National Bell Festival?
Explore more logos, patterns, and designs from The 50/50 Company by visiting their website or following along on Facebook and Instagram.
Matthew’s work follows in the steps of previous Official Festival Artists, including papercutting artist Natalia Didenko (2025), shodō artist Akiko Victorson (2024), muralist Keyonna Jones (2023), photographer Daniel Horowitz (2022), and watercolorist Cris Clapp Logan (2021).
Cover image: 'Bell Kitty' original artwork by Matthew Glick, The 50/50 Company.
