2026-2027 Grant Second Line Stories: Art, Culture, and Community

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Tiegan Booty-Maynard is a New Orleans-based visual artist whose work explores culture, storytelling, and community connection. Drawing inspiration from the vibrancy and cultural traditions of New Orleans, she creates bold, expressive works relevant to the human experience. “I aim to create art that is honest, impactful, and relatable—work that invites viewers to pause, reflect, and connect with their own experiences. Whether addressing hardship, hope, or renewal, my intention is to create pieces that foster understanding, emotional connection, and a sense of shared humanity,” she explains. Her creativity practice acts as a tool for processing  grief, healing, identity, and growth. She explores these themes through murals, mixed media, and functional art, including Second Line umbrellas and custom-designed works.

Booty-Maynard’s art practice extends beyond herself to the community around her. She provides inclusive hands-on art workshops that are accessible to all - including the disabled. This grant will be used to plan a series of community workshops that support Booty-Maynard in her goals of preserving cultural identity, inspiring connection, and bringing art into everyday life. “Through a series of creative art workshops, I will teach participants the process of making art while highlighting the tradition and cultural significance of handmade Second Line umbrellas, allowing participants to learn, create, and connect with an important New Orleans tradition,” she explains.

A portion of the grant will go toward developing a community mural, which will create an opportunity for residents to contribute their creativity to a public artwork that reflects their shared spirit, history, and identity. “My goal is to use these grant funds not only to provide supplies and accessible art experiences, but to create meaningful opportunities for people of different ages and backgrounds to discover their creativity, learn new artistic skills, celebrate local culture, and see themselves represented through art. This project reflects my commitment to making art accessible, preserving cultural traditions, and using creativity as a way to strengthen and inspire the community,” states Booty-Maynard. “Art is both my practice and my purpose,” she reflects.

Tiegan Booty-Maynard studied Fine Arts and Graphic Design at Nunez Community College and Delgado Community College. Her artwork has been featured in exhibitions and community events, and she has collaborated on culturally significant projects, including the release of Disney’s The Princess and the Frog in 2022. She received an Art Instructor Certification from Grumbacher and first joined the YAYA Guild in 1999.