New Orleans Home to Displaced Painter’s Art, Soul
November 9, 2006
Artist Terrance Osborne’s star was rising fast before Katrina hit. He had been named one of Gambit Magazine‘s “40 Under 40” in November of 2004, around the time his huge cityscape mural done in his vivid signature palette appeared on the parking garage of the downtown Hilton Hotel.
Then Katrina came and flooded his Terrytown home/studio with three feet of water. He lost a third of his work, and soon sold half of what was hanging high enough on the walls to remain undamaged.
Osborne, wife Stephanie and their three children were offered a home in Acworth, Georgia by a friend in September of 2005, and that is where they remain. On his bimonthly trips back to the city, Osborne looks for signs of recovery and stability that will reassure him that it’s a safe environment for his family. Quality education and economic development are top priorities.
New Orleans appreciates her native son even more in his absence. His artwork graced the cover of the 8/22/06 Gambit Weekly, he has received several upcoming commissions around New Orleans, and he was recently named “1 of 50 People to Watch” by New Orleans Magazine.
Osborne describes recent accolades from within New Orleans as “bittersweet.” “Here I am living in Georgia, but all of my artistic activity is primarily New Orleans-based. I’m in my own little world here. My client base has completely flip-flopped from being mostly outside Louisiana to being mostly Louisianans. My work was getting attention in New Orleans before Katrina, but nothing like this.”
Does he see himself staying in Georgia forever? “Absolutely not,” Osborne states adamantly. “Like most who were displaced by Katrina and haven’t made it back yet, it’s not a question of if we are coming back, but a question of when.”
