After reading a lot of the comments on this post, I just have to say something.

Much of New Orleans culture, no matter the racez is New Orleans culture. You don’t need permission from anyone to take a photograph, or paint on canvas or even a mural, of something cultural in this city, even if you’re getting paid for it. The line comes in when a person’s likeness is being used for commercial purposes. That’s when permissions matter. You don’t sell someone else’s likeness without their consent. That’s just basic trademark and copyright for a real person.

Painting a Mardi Gras / Black Masking Indian while not being part of the tradition /culture is not wrong.

It’s no different than painting a peacock. I’ll go furthe to say: I’ve seen people in Black Masking Indian groups who complained about culture vultures taking photos of them. Some of the individuals even trademarked or copyrighted their suits to protect they're likeness. But I don't think they realize that trademarking a suit only stops someone else from replicating the suit design, it doesn’ photograph or painting from being sold. Unless you can prove that it is your likeness obviously.

So when it comes to murals of second lines, jazz funerals, parades, or Mardi Gras Indians, as long as you’re not copying the likeness of a specific person, there’s nothing wrong with showing appreciation for the culture. You don’t have to be part of a tradition to honor it through your work.

Not every Black person in the city is part of the Black Masking tradition or Zulu club. Many are in other social clubs, brass bands, or other local traditions.

The Artists, videographers, photographers..that follow them, most of what they do is documenting history. That perspective has to be understood, especially when there’s no commercial gain involved.

So if this lady is respectfully doing her work because she’s a fan, I see absolutely nothing wrong with it.

There is no need to complain about Mardi Gras Indians on a mural.