A Fresh Take on Kentucky’s Identity

A proposed redesign of the Kentucky state flag aims to capture the essence of the commonwealth: a blend of tradition and forward momentum. The design features a galloping horse set against a checkerboard background of alternating squares in Bourbon Yellow and Bluegrass Blue, with an alternative version using Bluegrass Green.

Decoding the Colors and Patterns

The flag’s color palette is rich with symbolism:

• Bourbon Yellow: Represents richness, warmth, and enduring value, reflecting Kentucky’s cultural depth and natural resources. It also symbolizes Kentucky bourbon and goldenrod, the state flower.
• Bluegrass Blue (or Green): Stands for bluegrass,Bluegrass music,and culture.

These colors also echo the archetypes from the current state seal: gold for the frontiersman and blue for the statesman. The checkerboard pattern unites these forces, representing a commonwealth built on contrast and cohesion.

The Checkerboard: More Than Meets the Eye

The checkerboard pattern serves multiple purposes:

• Evokes racing flags, linking to Kentucky’s horse racing tradition.
• references the agricultural patchwork of Kentucky’s landscape.
• Nods to Appalachian quilting traditions and the visual forms of black tobacco barns.
• with 15 squares,it marks kentucky’s historical place as the 15th state to enter the Union.

The Galloping Thoroughbred: A Symbol of Vitality

At the flag’s center is a white silhouette of a galloping kentucky thoroughbred.This powerful emblem represents the commonwealth’s vitality,independence,and cultural depth. The horse’s posture declares energy, liberty, and forward movement. The use of white underscores clarity of purpose and purity of spirit.

A Successor to Tradition

The thoroughbred horse serves as a symbolic successor to the frontiersman and statesman in Kentucky’s original state seal. The horse embodies the fusion of rugged individualism and civic order, of untamed wilderness and cultivated governance.

As an animal that is both wild and trained, both muscular and elegant, the horse visually fuses the virtues of both archetypes. The frontiersman’s grit and freedom live in the raw power and movement of the gallop,while the statesman’s dignity,discipline,and ambition are captured in the horse’s sleek,refined form.

Addressing the Shortcomings of the Current Flag

The redesigned flag aims to improve upon the current Kentucky flag, which is described as an intricate seal on a blue field that lacks visual impact, especially from a distance. The new design adheres to the five principles of good flag design as recommended by the north American vexillological Association: simplicity, meaningful symbolism, easy recognition, limited colors, and no lettering or seals.