Guide for Designing a Walking Tour to Explore New Orleans’ Alternative Art Scene

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This guide is brought to you by National Geographic Traveller (UK).

Delightful beignets coated with sugar, potent sazeracs infused with rye, and a month-long Mardi Gras revelry – the sensory experiences of New Orleans are truly captivating.

In contrast, the city’s dynamic art scene often remains unnoticed. However, taking a leisurely stroll through its streets during the daytime reveals that, much like the live jazz melodies resonating from windows and street corners, art saturates every nook and cranny of this urban landscape.

From the once-neglected warehouse district, transformed into a trendy arts quarter in the 1990s, showcasing small galleries and prominent museums, to the Creole townhouses along Royal Street within the French Quarter, serving as sophisticated backdrops for fine-art galleries – the city’s artistry is multifaceted. Notably, Frenchman Street offers a night-time art bazaar nestled between jazz clubs adorned with murals, where visitors can explore an array of handcrafted artworks.

1. Contemporary Arts Center

Commence your journey on Camp Street, where the Contemporary Arts Center stands as a cornerstone of the Warehouse Arts District. Its expansive interior provides ample room for photographs, sculptures, and various visual art pieces, accompanied by a vibrant schedule of performance art. Should your artistic appetite remain unsated, numerous independent galleries are conveniently clustered within minutes’ walk along Camp, Julia, and Magazine streets.

2. The Old No. 77

Before embarking, enjoy a cup of coffee from the industrial-chic café, Tout La, within The Old No. 77 hotel. Meander to the petite lobby gallery, where an ever-changing exhibit, ranging from paintings to sculptures, reflects the seasons. These curated collections are overseen by the local collective Where Y’Art Works, which boasts its exhibition space on Royal Street. The hotel also proudly hosts an artist-in-residence initiative, showcasing the resultant creations each summer.

3. Stella Jones Gallery

On your way to the French Quarter, you’ll encounter Stella Jones Gallery, a space exclusively dedicated to Black artists. Founded by a doctor-turned-gallerist, Jones, alongside her late husband Harry Sr., initiated the gallery in 1996. The couple advocated for African American, contemporary African, and Caribbean fine art, utilizing their thoughtfully curated exhibitions to reshape perceptions about Black artists and enhance accessibility to their often thought-provoking creations.

4. Napoleon House

Venture into the heart of the French Quarter to savor a muffuletta sandwich, composed of cured meats, cheese, and tangy olive salad, accompanied by a refreshing Pimm’s cup at the Napoleon House. The Creole townhouse has a storied history, rumored to have been intended as a gift for Napoleon Bonaparte, although circumstances prevented his acceptance. Regardless of the veracity of the tale, the dining room has unintentionally transformed into a gallery, where quirky Napoleon sketches coexist with faded photographs.

5. Gallery Arlo

A few blocks northward lies the quaint Gallery Arlo, brimming with contemporary artworks by female artists. This space deviates from a conventional gallery, evoking the sensation of stepping into an idiosyncratic collector’s treasure trove – nearly nothing adorns a plain white wall, with discoveries awaiting in every corner. The collection spans a wide spectrum, juxtaposing paintings and sculptures of vastly diverse dimensions side by side.

6. Frenchmen Art Market

Continue eastward along Royal Street, passing the purportedly haunted LaLaurie Mansion, until you arrive at Frenchmen Street, a vibrant strip known for its laid-back jazz clubs. Nestled within this milieu is the Frenchmen Art Market, an outdoor bazaar where you can directly acquire pieces from local artists. Operating from 8 pm onwards, if you arrive early, you can enjoy a drink and live music at any nearby bar while you await the market’s opening.

This narrative was crafted with support from Travel South and the Eliza Jane and Hyatt Centric French Quarter hotels.
Featured in the September 2023 edition of National Geographic Traveller (UK).

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Alternative Art Scene

More about Alternative Art Scene

• Contemporary Arts Center
• The Old No. 77
• Where Y’Art Works
• Stella Jones Gallery
• Napoleon House
• Gallery Arlo
• Frenchmen Art Market
• National Geographic Traveller (UK)