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TERRANCE OSBORNE: How Do You Red Bean?

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New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne stands before one of his colorful artworks. Born and bred in the Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans in 1976, Terrance Osborne grew up immersed in a world of color, creativity, and communal spirit. His childhood, shaped by a mother who painted flowering pastels and a brother whose doodles filled the family home, laid the groundwork for his artistic journey. What began as casual sketches on pants for classmates evolved into a deep passion, fueled further by his high school mentor, Richard C. Thomas at New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA), who first introduced him to the idea that art could be a way of life.

After earning a Fine Arts degree from Xavier University, Osborne jumped into teaching in the New Orleans public school system. But everything changed after Hurricane Katrina. Uprooted to rural Georgia, he found himself with the time—and the emotional space—to create art full‑time. He credits his wife, Stephanie, for urging him to dive fully into painting—advice that would shape his career.

Upon returning to New Orleans, Osborne’s work blossomed, energized by collective memory and the need for cultural renewal. His bold acrylic on plywood paintings—bursting with shotgun houses, second-line dancers, and Mardi Gras revelers—reflect not only a city recovering from trauma, but its indomitable spirit.

Three artwork posters by New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne.

{from Terrance Osborne’s Facebook page}

Terrence Osborne was the featured artist for the Jazz & Heritage Festival, creating posters multiple times (2007, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2018, 2022). His distinct style has attracted national brands like Nike, Coca‑Cola, Heineken, and the NBA—all seeking his vibrant take on NOLA culture. With his Nike collaboration, he designed a New Orleans Air Force 1 sneaker and other branded campaigns, cementing his influence.

In 2017, Osborne opened his gallery on Magazine Street—a sensory-filled space designed to envelop visitors in New Orleans culture. His gallery philosophy reflects his own creative mantra: he doesn’t just document culture—he produces it, intentionally weaving sensory elements, human connection, and local spirit into every corner of his space.

Terrance Osborne is more than a painter—he’s a culture-producer. He distills the heartbeats of New Orleans into neon lines and swirling shapes, creating work that is instantly recognizable. His success has become a blueprint for artists seeking to blend authenticity with high-profile visibility.

Through his gallery, Osborne ensures his art isn’t just observed—it’s lived. Guests leave not only with an aesthetic impression but with a sensory memory of New Orleans itself: the sound, texture, and color of a city in motion.

New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne sits before one of his colorful artworks.

What’s your earliest memory of red beans and rice?

When I was a kid, my mother used to make gumbo, and so for years I thought that Red beans and rice was another type of gumbo. Like gumbo, it had hot sausage, rice, bay leaves, and was brown. Because my mother put hot sausage in the beans, it ended up being as spicy as gumbo.

Was red beans and rice a regular thing in your house growing up?

Red beans and rice were a regular dish in my house. I was one of five kids, so my mom usually chose dishes that could go far on a limited budget.

Do you eat red beans on Mondays?

Maybe my mom would make red beans on Mondays, but I wouldn’t have known as a kid. As an adult, I learned that it was a custom in New Orleans.

What makes a perfect pot of red beans?

I make it like my mom did. When my mom would make Red beans, it would take most of the day. She would soak them the night before, and then the next day she would start making them in the middle of the day. It seemed like about five hours of cooking time before they were soft.

She used chicken broth instead of water to boil the beans. She added sausage, onions, a few different seasonings, and bay leaves at the end. The best consistency is when it’s like a soup. Some people like to pour it over their rice, and it sits on top, but it should never be that thick.

Red beans and rice are not meant to be eaten with a fork. The only way to make a good pot of red beans and rice is to make it in New Orleans. You have to sprinkle a little culture in the pot.

What does red beans and rice mean to you?

Red beans and rice are synonymous with growing up in New Orleans to me. I used to think that everyone had red beans and rice as a child. In my travels as an adult, I learned that everywhere else, they’re just rice with beans.

Is there a person or place you always think about when you smell a pot of red beans simmering?

My mom and my big sister both may red beans and rice. It’s where I learned how. So I think of them.

Has red beans and rice ever shown up at a big moment in your life—good or bad?

Red beans and rice fit into every backdrop and event in New Orleans, so I never question when it shows up. I just indulge.

Where’s your favorite place anywhere in New Orleans?

My favorite place is Magazine Street in Uptown New Orleans. It’s the perfect place to see locals and tourists mingling. I love people watching, so I often grab a bite and stroll.

What are you currently working on?

This is the first time that I’m mentioning this, but we are moving my art gallery and expanding to a larger location.

Also, I just finalized a partnership with Raising Cane’s.  I’m currently working on a project with the University Medical Center (UMC) and Children’s Hospital.

Visit Terrance Osborne’s Gallery at 3029 Magazine Street.

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