My Journey as a New Orleans Artist — Born Here, Made Here
- Christina Pappion
- Jun 26
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 16
People ask me all the time how I became a New Orleans artist.
My answer is always the same: I didn't become one. I was born one.
I grew up in Gentilly — one of the most deeply New Orleans neighborhoods in this city. I went to Mount Carmel Academy. I earned my BFA from the University of New Orleans. I never left, not really, because I never wanted to. Everything I needed to become the artist I am today was already here.
Growing Up in New Orleans — Where Art Is Everywhere
When you grow up in New Orleans, you don't go looking for inspiration. It finds you.
It's in the second line parades that stop traffic on a Sunday afternoon. In the Mardi Gras Indians who spend an entire year beading their suits — stitch by stitch, feather by feather — for one morning of pure glory. In the brass bands that make a funeral feel like a celebration of life. In the shotgun houses painted in colors that would look too bold anywhere else but feel exactly right here.
I grew up inside all of that. And when I picked up a brush, all of that came with me.
Finding My Path — From UNO to a Career in Art
I studied fine art at the University of New Orleans, where I learned that having talent is just the beginning. Technique, discipline, vision — those things have to be built. I built them in classrooms and studios in this city, surrounded by other artists who understood that New Orleans culture is not a backdrop for art. It is the art.
After graduating, I did what most artists do: I worked. I painted. I said yes to opportunities that scared me. I figured out what made my work different from every other artist in this city — and the answer always came back to the same thing. I'm from here. I don't paint New Orleans from the outside looking in. I paint it from the inside out.
The Moments That Changed Everything
There have been a few moments in my career that I will never forget.
The New Orleans Saints — My Cause My Cleats
When the Saints called and asked me to be the first artist selected for their My Cause My Cleats program, I cried. I'm not ashamed to say it. I grew up in this city cheering for this team. Being chosen as the artist to paint for Saints players — to put my brushwork on the cleats they would wear on that field — was one of the most profound honors of my life. It was the moment I truly understood that my art had the power to represent something bigger than me.
The New Orleans Pelicans — Official Commemorative Ticket Artist
Being named the official commemorative ticket artist for the Pelicans was another full-circle moment. My artwork was displayed throughout the Champions Club VIP area and on all of the team's packaging materials that season. Thousands of people experienced my work inside that arena. That's what it feels like when your art becomes part of a city's story.
Crescent City Classic — First Woman of Color Selected as Poster Artist
In 2017, I was selected to create the official commemorative poster for the Crescent City Classic — New Orleans' iconic 10K road race. I was the first woman of color in the event's history to hold that distinction. I attended the 2016 race myself, painted the energy and joy of the post-race celebration live from a spot by the stage, and delivered a poster that became a collector's item. I also painted live at the 2017 race — another first in the event's history.
Mardi Gras Poster Art — Official Krewe Artist
I am the official poster artist for three of New Orleans' most beloved Mardi Gras krewes: the Mystic Krewe of Femme Fatale, the Krewe of Nefertiti, and the Krewe of Symphony. Every year, I create the posters that become the faces of their seasons. For Femme Fatale, I paint live at the Queen Reveal Party — the painting comes to life in real time, in front of the entire krewe. There is nothing quite like that experience.
Brand Collaborations — When Art Meets Commerce
Over the years, I have been trusted by some remarkable brands to bring fine art into their most important moments. Amazon. Verizon. Dixie Beer. Crown Royal. Dunkeroos. The National World War II Museum. Romeo y Julieta Cigars. Tulane University.
One of my favorite projects was painting live at Amazon's Super Bowl VIP suite — setting up a shoe-painting station where guests walked up, collaborated with me in real time, and walked away with custom-painted sneakers. That's the thing about live art: it turns an event into a memory.
Celebrity Commissions — Portraits That Mean Something
I have painted custom portraits and commissioned work for Drew and Brittany Brees, Sean Payton, Cooper Manning, Arch Manning, Terence Blanchard, and Zion Williamson. Each one of those commissions is a privilege. But the truth is, the most meaningful portraits I paint are the ones where someone trusts me with a moment that matters to them — whether they're famous or not.
Live Wedding Painting — Where I Found My Calling
Somewhere along the way, I discovered live wedding painting — and it changed everything. There is something about painting a couple's ceremony in real time, in front of their guests, that connects every thread of who I am as an artist. The spontaneity. The emotion. The pressure. The joy.
I have now painted hundreds of weddings across the United States. I have been featured in Martha Stewart Weddings, People Magazine, Mississippi Magazine, and Southern Bride. I was named one of the Top 10 Live Wedding Painters Worldwide by Feedspot in 2026. I am a Knot Best of Weddings Award Winner with verified 5-star reviews.
And I do all of it from New Orleans. Because this is home. And home is where the best work comes from.
What Being a New Orleans Artist Really Means
Being a New Orleans artist is not a style choice. It's not an aesthetic. It's not something you can fake.
It means your art carries the weight of this city's history — the joy and the grief, the resilience and the reinvention. It means you paint second lines because you've danced in them. You paint the bayou because you grew up beside it. You paint Mardi Gras because you've felt the bead hit your hand on a cold February morning and understood exactly why people come from everywhere in the world just to stand on these streets.
That's what I bring to every canvas. That's what it means to be from here.
What's Next
I am currently accepting commissions for original paintings, prints, live event painting, and brand collaborations. If you're a couple planning your wedding, a brand looking for a live art experience, or a krewe seeking your next official poster artist — I would love to talk.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting New Orleans art. And thank you for letting me tell my story.
— Christina Pappion
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