The Pastel Palate of Louisiana

Cover Artist Casey Langteau of Louisiana

by Cayman Clevenger

CASEY LANGTEAU’S ART GALLERY was, in some sense, an accident. In 2018, she signed a short-term lease agreement for the space on Magazine Street, intending to use it for a two-week popup during Art for Art’s Sake, the signature annual festival for the burgeoning fine arts scene in a quintessential New Orleans corridor. The event was such a hit that she decided to make the space, a bright and luxurious gallery, more permanent. Langteau’s star as an artist is on a meteoric rise. She went full time only a couple of years ago. You may have already seen her art. Recently, her work was featured on the covers of two prominent local arts and culture publications.

A sea of pastels featuring hues of blues and touches of gold, a running theme throughout her work, greets guests as they enter Langteau’s gallery. It’s not uncommon for her art to feature icons and symbols of New Orleans: alligators, street cars, the French Quarter, musical instruments and the St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.

To create works that resonate with collectors, designers and first-time art buyers, Langteau focuses on joy. “I have a mantra that I speak aloud while I’m painting: ‘I will create a beautiful painting, and it will spark joy,’” Langteau tells me. “Even if I’m having a bad day, I repeat this out loud.”

Langteau primarily works with acrylics on canvas, but she has also cultivated what has blossomed into something of a lifestyle brand that centers around her artwork and her love of Louisiana. She promotes her artwork and original home décor items organically on her impressive and transfixing Instagram account, @ CaseyLangteauArt, where she’s amassed a devoted following of over 20,000 followers.

From hand-painted champagne flutes and contemporary acrylic trays, to large plush blankets and beautiful beach towels that feature Langteau’s distinctive style, there is something in virtually every price-point at her gallery and her online storefront.

She says her creations are not intended to live on gallery walls, but to become a part of and live in homes. “I want my pieces to become an integral part of people’s lives,” she says.

The subject matter and colors used in her work are calming. “I want my artwork to represent the South while being classy, tranquil, and almost subtle. I don’t want my artwork to yell at you, but I want it to grasp your attention and pull you in, but in a way that makes you feel happy, content, and even jubilant.”

Langteau fabricates her own acrylic paints, heavily applied in a way that gives homage to the unfiltered oils of old. While she brings her own unique perspective and touch to her art, Langteau’s work is reminiscent of New Orleans greats James Michalopoulos and Becky Fos. And like Fos and Michalopoulos, she primarily paints not with a paintbrush, but a palate knife, giving her work the texture and movement that brings her subjects to life.

Langteau draws inspiration from the natural world and beauty that surrounds her, often painting scenes she first captures with photography. She constantly challenges herself to explore new subjects in her paintings. “I have a notebook where I keep all my ideas and sketches for artwork. I photograph a lot, and I get my inspiration from these photos and experiences in my life,” she says.

Once Langteau picks a focus or subject, she decides on a theme and then spends a great deal of time pondering the connective tissue that will link the collection together. As a result of this forethought, her art is titled in clever and playful ways that work to further animate her subjects.

In her Break Free collection, featuring Louisiana wildlife, or what she calls “the graceful creatures of the coast,” Langteau named every piece in the collection after songs by the rock band Queen. For example, Rock You features a blue heron with a coif of feathers that resembles a rock-and-roll mohawk and add an extra flair to the already vibrant swamp-dweller.

Although much of her work has focused on Louisiana’s flora and fauna, her most recent collection pays homage to New Orleans and its unmistakable landmarks and architecture: St. Louis Cathedral, scenes of Frenchman Street, the Superdome, and Garden District homes. “New Orleans is the most unique city in the United States, and there is nowhere else I would rather live and create art,” she says. “My desire is to paint and to bring joy to people through my art. There is no lack of inspiration coming from this state.”

She’s continued working on Louisiana subjects throughout the pandemic and has sold out her original works, sometimes before the paint was able to dry. The pandemic also provided her with a new perspective, not only on her art, but on the city and state she loves. “This gave us an opportunity to appreciate New Orleans as we remember it: electric and filled with people and bliss,” she tells me.

During the lockdown, she decided to take a walk with her dogs downtown. That was when the effects of the global pandemic really hit home. “It was sobering and upsetting to see the city I love missing the human element. It made me appreciate the fond memories that I have, and when this pandemic is over, I know we will be even more grateful for the beauty that surrounds us.”

After a year in quarantine, Langteau is now diligently working on an ambitious collection of Louisiana landscapes—swampy cypress trees, grand oaks and iconic natural vistas, including scenes featuring New Orleans’ beautiful parks. In celebration of the city’s beauty, Langteau debuted the collection in April during a small show at her Magazine Street gallery—accompanied by a brass band.

Casey Langteau Art is located at 4700 Magazine Street in New Orleans. (504) 231-4759, gallery@caseylangteauart.com.