I am an artist living and working in New Orleans. I grew up in Baton Rouge, spent a few years working in the Carolinas and finally moved back to finish my BFA from LSU. I'm known for my bright, contemporary and figurative floral paintings. I find inspiration in the tropical flora of New Orleans, the everyday lives of women I know and encounter and images collected along the way. I describe my artworks as “a dialogue between the vivid surroundings of New Orleans, it's eclectic inhabitants and the mutual influence upon one another."
While at LSU I received the nomination to attend Yale Norfolk and the Baton Rouge Art League's annual scholarship. I spent 6 years as an Artist in Residence at N the Art Space, a studio collective. After graduating I became an Artist in Residence with The Manship Theatre at the Shaw Center for the Arts. I've also worked with other area organizations including The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge.
Currently, I teach at Saint James Place Retirement Community as their resident art instructor engaging the residents in art's therapeutic properties. I am also a site manager and artist with the Walls Project several times a year on large scale murals and community beautification events.
Questions & Answers
Describe your art in three words. Botanical. Feminine. Human.
Describe yourself in one word. Curious
What do you love the most about creating art in New Orleans? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work? This city oozes creative energy. The music, color, architecture, history, tropical botanicals, City Park, The NOMA, the women...all of it affects me and gives me a reason to put color on a canvas. There is no shortage of vibrant colors or intriguing subject matter here. That's why I've found myself painting daily since moving here.
Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece? I love painting first thing in the morning, coffee in hand. The day hasn't begun yet and the to-do list I short. Painting early allows me to focus.
Where do you draw inspiration? I'm really driven by looking at great art. Seeing a brilliant work makes me want to push myself. Seeing other work gets me started in the studio. What inspires me once in front of blank canvas or panel is the nature of New Orleans, strong women, nature & botanicals. I use all of those elements to tell a story.
Who are your artistic influences or gurus? This is gonna be a long list. They include Xenia Hausner, Neo Rauch, Arnold Mesches, Lucian Freud, Hope Gangloff, Barkley Hendricks, Kehinde Wiley, Wayne Thiebaud, and Paula Rego.
In New Orleans, art and music go hand in hand. What type of music, band or song lyric best describes your work? Brenton Wood "Oogum Boogum"
Where can we find you when you are not creating art? Walking to my neighborhood bar while unsuccessfully teaching my dog to walk on a leash.
What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year? Mardi Gras and Christmas.
What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact. I taught myself to design websites and commercial hand lettering by watching online videos.
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Where You Can Find My Work
All works listed online are available to be viewed at Where Y’Art Gallery by appointment.
St. Claude Social Club in New Orleans, LA.
Claire Elizabeth Gallery in New Orleans, LA
Ann Connelly Fine Art in Baton Rouge, LA.
Bee Street Gallery in Dallas, TX.
Gallery 1930 & Design Supply Shop in Birmingham, AL.
The Campbell Collective in Greenville, SC.
My Shipping Policies
Please allow 7-14 days shipping for standard orders. All packages are shipped within the Continental United States through the USPS via Priority Mail with Tracking. For international shipping prices, shipping on works larger than 24x24in, rush orders or commissions, login in and send me a private message through the messaging tool on my profile page.
