Still Life in
New Orleans
These images are part of my new project "Still Life in New Orleans." Started in the summer of 2025, the series isolates objects of cultural and historical importance to New Orleans and enshrines them in a floral still life that is a celebration and memorial. The plants are all collected from gardens, neutral grounds, and wild areas of the city. They are a study of shapes, textures, colors, light, composition, and symbology.
I assemble the plants around each piece while usually suspended in air. After being documented over a few hours and sometimes days the pieces are composted and objects returned to their homes around town. Many of the early pieces were created with assistance from Rob Joy, who mentored me in the ways of horticulture arrangement.
These still life pieces are fading moments like the objects that have enjoyed revelry and purpose before passing into history and symbology.
A public exhibit of the work will be up in December through Spring 2027 at NOCCA's garden along Press Street in New Orleans. The exhibit has been made possible with funding from NOTCF and Jazz and Heritage Foundation.
To purchase prints and help support this work please visit: Where Y'art
Bywater gates where St Anne has started its Mardi Gras day parade.
New Orleans Watermeter lid
Horse Head Hitching Post
Carnival mask made by Gabriel Quirk and worn by Rob Joy for Mardi Gras 2025.
Doyle Cooper's trumpet. Musician Cooper, 32, grew up in New Orleans, started playing in 5th grade, and is now a member of the Storyville Stompers.
Artist Caroline Thomas' brush, used to paint floats and props for Krewe of Rex and Krewe of Proteus,
Valley of Silent Men SA & PC fan and shoulder piece from their 2026 August parade.
Jester head made in the 90s by Jonathan Bertuccelli, painted by Caroline Thomas, designer and painter at Royal Artists; butterflies and flowers by Dana Beuhler; jesterâs wand by Noah Church; ribbons from Saint Anne, with flowers from the garden where the krewe starts their parade.
White Buffalo Skull Patch by Creole Osceola Big Chief Zee Bo
A second line basket carried by Bernard Robertson and made by Melvin Reed for Sudan SA & PC's 2015 parade.
Fox patches by Black Osceola Big Chief Zee Bo and Big Queen Kelly, Snake Patch by Jimmy Woods formerly a Flagboy of Creole Osceola, and kingfisher bird by New Orleans Taxidermy Kate Lacour.
Decorated violin from Sudan SA & PC
Mardi Gras Fox Mask by Mark Hannibal
Mardi Gras Clown Mask by Mark Hannibal
Ecuadorian devil mask
Mardi Gras Gargoyle Mask by Mark Hannibal
A second line basket carried by Bernard Robertson and made by Melvin Reed for Sudan SA & PC's 2015 parade.
Mardi Gras Fox Mask by Mark Hannibal
Fox patches by Black Osceola Big Chief Zee Bo and Big Queen Kelly, Snake Patch by Jimmy Woods formerly a Flagboy of Creole Osceola, and kingfisher bird by New Orleans Taxidermy Kate Lacour.
Decorated violin from Sudan SA & PC
White Buffalo Skull Patch by Creole Osceola Big Chief Zee Bo
Valley of Silent Men SA & PC fan and shoulder piece from their 2026 August parade.
Ecuadorian devil mask