I spent most of the Summer of 2024 creating this massive 100’ mural to commemorate Katie’s 40th Anniversary and courtyard expansion, later adding the benches in front to coordinate. Owner & Chef Scot Craig knew he wanted it to reflect New Orleans culture, but he left the rest open for me to conceptualize.

Being that Katie’s is a Neighborhood Restaurant, I drew a lot of inspiration from MidCity and the surrounding homes & gardens, including nearby restaurant pals of Chef Scot, like Mandina’s & Liuzza’s. The totem pole lists NOLA iconic establishments, but also includes Zia’s of St. Louis—Chef’s in-laws’ restaurant that influenced much of his menu. Two of the houses are marked “The Craig’s” and “The Leiningers’” to honor the current and past owners that have kept the Katie’s legacy alive. I filled the existing box on the fence that locals know as “little libraries” with painted cookbooks from the greats like Fitzmorris, Prudhomme, & Lagasse. And of course, I included some of their iconic dishes like seafood po-boys, oysters, & pizza. Since it was such a large space, I used a limited palette of only the bright and colorful shades of the current buildings and patio furniture so as to not overwhelm the eye.

It was such an honor to be chosen for this project and have the chance to tell Katie’s story through my art!