3 minute read
Meet Ernest Robert
Boldly Blending Art and Life in Every Brushstroke.
BY BETH D'ADDONO
AS AN ARTIST, Ernest Robert doesn’t stick to a lane. What he paints is life, what he sees, what he remembers, what he feels. Although he’s only 41, Robert is an old soul, painting memories that resonate across a spectrum of ages. His work is bold, colorful, full of texture and detail. Much of it evokes the food and music of New Orleans and Louisiana.
Robert is from Algiers but moved with his wife and four children to Slidell a few years ago. “Moving here, we all have room to breathe,” said the artist, who radiates an intensity of mind and purpose.
His work is playful, rife with symbolism, evocative. His piece Breakthrough is a surrealist portrait of the hands of time, in this case a shackled hand ready to break its chains with the key to freedom almost within reach. In his children’s book Art of the Wild, Robert illustrates the animal kingdom with watercolor portraits of curious pandas and cheeky crows. His two daughters helped with the captions. A vintage Louisiana series has a pop art vibe, spotlighting familiar brands like Hubig’s Pies, Blue Runner red beans, Big Shot in the glass bottle and Schwegmann’s.
Relocating to Slidell is a chance to regain his footing, connect with his new community and continue doing what he loves most, making art. “I remember drawing as a little kid, maybe five or six,” he said. “I was one of 10, so there was always something going on around me. It was just something I had to do.”
He’s been through tough times. The pandemic shuttered his Lower Garden District E. Robert Gallery and shut down his Terrytown barber business for 10 months, leaving him with piles of debt. “I lost a lot. The key is just to push through.”
Robert’s work unfolds on Instagram (@ernestsizzerhands), showcasing both his dreamy portraiture and his skills as a trendsetting barber. Customers can stop by to peruse art in a range of styles and prices, and/or get a stylish fade with line art cut into the sides for extra drama. In both areas, Robert pushes boundaries, creating style and art that reflect how he sees the world.
VISIT ERNEST ROBERT: The Cut Gallery - 2859 Carey St., Slidell | (504) 281-7436 Instagram @ernestsizzerhands
