Acadiana artist Dusty Reed, who goes by the moniker “the Cajun Picasso,” created original artwork for each of the 2026 Bright Lights Awards. From his Lafayette Art Association studio, Reed works in a variety of mediums, from found-object sculptures to multimedia compositions and paintings. His designation as “the Cajun Picasso” comes from his penchant for combining contemporary folk art and cubism styles, which he calls “ColkArt”. In 2024, Reed was the Official Visual Artist for Festivals Acadiens et Creoles.