Home Artist Programs Supported Artists Kelly Pearson Boles (Big Queen Kelly)

Kelly Pearson Boles (Big Queen Kelly)

New Orleans, Louisiana

A partially finished head piece titled Black Osceola Big Queen Kelly Crown has a geometric pattern made up of white, yellow, orange, and blue beads sewn to canvas. Bags of beads, gems, thread, tape, a purple crayon, and a Snickers fun-sized wrapper surround the design.

Black Osceola Big Queen Kelly Crown

2024

Big Queen Kelly wears a beaded and feather suit on a city street in this work titled Mardi Gras Day Big Queen Kelly. She smiles out from under an upside-down U-shaped head piece and pants patterned with turquoise, red, and yellow beads. Black feathers create a wide halo around her whole body. A little girl holds her hand and smiles up at Big Queen Kelly.

Mardi Gras Day Big Queen Kelly

2023

Two people wear acid-green feathered and beaded suits in this work titled Spiderssss!! Beaded and jeweled medallion-like head pieces rise high amid a spray of bright green feathers. The wearers’ arms are bare, and the torsos and legs are also beaded with yellow, blue, white, and green.

Spiderssss!!

2020

The Reigning Flag Queen of New Orleans! shows a person wearing an aqua-blue, densely feathered suit and a tall, conical, yellow and blue head piece. THe body of the suit is heavily beaded, and a red braid falls over a chest piece. Arms are held wide, and the feathers flare out in all directions.

Reigning Flag Queen of New Orleans!!

2013

Artworks shown are selected from works submitted by the artist in their grant or residency application. All works are copyright of the artist or artist’s estate.

About Kelly Pearson Boles (Big Queen Kelly)

Big Queen Kelly Pearson Boles is a Black Native American Creet woman. She smiles out from under a headpiece that almost completely encircles her face. It is completely beaded with purple, pale blue, white, brown, and pale yellow rhinestones and beads. Fuschia-pink feathers line the head piece and the chest piece on her torso.

Kelly Pearson Boles is Big Queen of the Black Osceolas, a tribe in the Black Masking Indian tradition of New Orleans. Big Queen Kelly has spent over 20 years creating suits that aren’t just something to wear—they’re sacred, storytelling works of art. Boles was the Creole Osceolas Gang Flag Queen from 2008 to 2022, and has served as Big Queen for the tribe since 2022. She was a pregame show performer in the 2025 Super Bowl in New Orleans. Big Queen Kelly has served as Secretary for the Queen of The Nation Indian Council since 2010.

Program Participation

Joan Mitchell Center Residency, 2026

Website / Social Links

“ My artistic practice is a living extension of who I am—rooted in love, heritage, and the traditions passed down through generations of Black Masking Indians in New Orleans. Each suit honors my ancestors, reflects my personal journey, and brings our culture forward.”