Terrance Osborne Explains the Symbolism Behind Louisiana's 2026 Voting Sticker

Louisiana voters received a new visual marker on Tuesday, Election Day, as they collected the state’s official “I Voted” sticker. The design, created by 52-year-old artist Terrance Osborne, features a trumpet, floral elements, and a string of beads. Osborne explained that the imagery is intended to capture the specific cultural identity of the state while addressing a long-standing political debate regarding the uniqueness of New Orleans.

The central element of the sticker is a trumpet, a direct nod to Osborne’s mentor, artist Richard Thomas. Thomas taught Osborne and operated a gallery named Visual Jazz, a concept that inspired the artist to visualize how jazz music might appear as it exits the instrument’s bell. Osborne described this as the foundational idea for the piece, aiming to make the abstract concept of musical sound visible in a static image.

To represent the wider state, Osborne incorporated the magnolia, Louisiana’s state flower, into the composition. He also included a single Mardi Gras bead running toward the southeast. This directional choice serves a specific geographic and political purpose. Osborne noted that New Orleans is located in the southeastern part of Louisiana. He stated that the placement was a response to former Governor Landry’s assertion that New Orleans was not special, using the bead’s trajectory to express the city’s distinct importance within the state.

The color palette used in the sticker derives from Osborne’s academic training at Xavier University. He studied under Ron Bechet, a professor who taught students to work from dark to light and to refine their use of color. Osborne credited Bechet with helping him narrow his options to a uniform set of eight colors, a limited palette that he continues to use in his professional work. All eight colors appear in the final sticker design.

Osborne’s connection to civic duty is also rooted in his mentorship under Thomas. The artist described Thomas as a fighter for the arts and a consistent advocate for making voices heard. This influence encouraged Osborne to engage in his civic responsibilities. Osborne grew up in the Tremé and 7th Ward neighborhoods of New Orleans. He frequently visited Tamborine & Fan, where he observed Big Duck leading young people in artistic activities. His first mural, created at Hunter’s Field, depicted figures breaking through a brick wall, a symbol he associated with the freedom found in art.

Before receiving the sticker, Osborne posted on social media offering autographed prints to anyone who brought him their voting sticker. The state subsequently contacted him, stating that a private citizen could not give something of value in exchange for the sticker, even though the state itself was providing the incentive. Osborne updated his post to explain the rule change. He questioned the logic, noting that the state was already giving stickers to people for voting.

Osborne has operated the Terrance Osborne Gallery on Magazine Street since 2017. He is a graduate of the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and Xavier University of Louisiana. Prior to Hurricane Katrina, he taught art at Alice Harte Elementary School in Algiers. His early work included participating in the Pieces of Power program, an after-school initiative started by Thomas in 2337 St. Claude Avenue. It was there, at age 16 or 17, that Osborne sold his first painting.