Patricia Maus is a New Orleans artist living and working in the city's Mid-City neighborhood. Raised in New Orleans, she has spent her life exploring the intersection of art, education, and human behavior.
After earning degrees in education and teaching for over a decade, Maus returned to the University of New Orleans to complete a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Studio Art. Her background in education continues to inform her practice, fueling a deep curiosity about observation, perception, and the subtle ways people interact with one another and their environments.
Working primarily in acrylic, Maus creates contemporary figurative and abstract paintings that examine the quiet patterns embedded in everyday life. Her work has been exhibited regionally and is included in the University Medical Center New Orleans public art collection through Louisiana's Percent for Art Program. In addition to her studio practice, she leads drawing workshops that encourage people of all experience levels to slow down, look closely, and discover the joy of seeing.
Questions & Answers
Describe your art in three words.
Psychological. Familiar. Unsettling.
Describe yourself in one word.
Curious
What do you love the most about creating art in your community?
New Orleans rewards people who pay attention. I love sketching in City Park, people-watching in neighborhood cafés, and finding inspiration in the ordinary moments that make this city feel so alive.
Describe your creative process.
Every painting begins with observation. I collect moments from everyday life—an airport security line, a family gathered around a television, a quiet cup of coffee—and let those experiences settle before they become paintings. Preparing the panel, mixing color, and choosing music create the rhythm that allows the work to unfold. I rarely begin with all the answers; the painting reveals itself through the process.
Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece?
I begin by preparing the panel, mixing a restrained palette, and letting music fill the studio. The ritual isn't about routine as much as attention. It creates the space to transform an ordinary moment into something worth lingering over.
Where do you draw inspiration?
Everyday rituals, psychology, current events, books, museums, travel, and the subtle ways technology influences human behavior.
Who are your artistic influences or gurus?
Dana Schutz, Joan Mitchell, Richard Diebenkorn, Cecily Brown, Helen Frankenthaler, Lee Krasner, Mary Heilmann, and Albert Oehlen.
In New Orleans, art and music go hand in hand. What type of music, band or song lyric best describes your work?
"Do Whatcha Wanna" — Rebirth Brass Band.
Where can we find you when you are not creating art?
Walking through City Park, tending my garden, visiting museums, or exploring New Orleans with a sketchbook in hand.
What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?
Early morning / Sunday / October
What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact.
I'm a member of the Bearded Oyster Ladies marching group and I'm a licensed motorcyclist.
