10 Questions with the Artist: Inside the Work of Lora Marden

As a New Orleans-based contemporary Indigenous artist, I’m often asked about the inspiration, process, and stories behind my textured acrylic paintings. From my coastal roots on Martha’s Vineyard to my life immersed in the color and rhythm of New Orleans, they both play a central role in everything I create.

In this “10 Questions with the Artist” feature, I’m sharing a closer look at my creative process, my love for the natural world, vibrant colors, and what goes into each original Lora Marden painting. Whether you’re a longtime collector or just beginning your art-collecting journey, this is an invitation to step inside the world behind the canvas.

1. What places and experiences most influence your work today? 

I was born and raised on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, surrounded by the ocean, salt air, and that slower coastal rhythm. As a member of the Wampanoag Tribe of Aquinnah, that love and connection to the land and coastal life has never left me. Now, living in New Orleans, I’m equally inspired by the South, the history, the wildlife, the color, and the way this city celebrates everything. My paintings really live at the intersection of those two worlds.

2. Why do you work almost exclusively with thick, highly textured acrylics? 

I’ve always been drawn to texture because it makes a painting feel alive. I want my work to be experienced, not just seen. Thick acrylics allow me to build layers with palette knives, adding movement and depth in a way that feels sculptural. When you’re standing in front of one of my pieces, you can see and feel the energy of each palette knife stroke, that physicality is really important to me.

3. What draws you to subjects like florals and pelicans?

Florals have become a constant thread throughout my work. I’m drawn to them because they carry so much feeling, celebration, color, and movement. Working with thick, dimensional florals allows me to build layers and energy on the canvas in a way that feels expressive and alive. When I pair them with pelicans, it’s about elevating something familiar into something more poetic. Pelicans already have a quiet strength and elegance to them, and the florals become a way to honor that, adding beauty, color, and a sense of whimsy that reflects how I see the world around me.

Bonus Question: Why do you paint LSU and Mike the Tiger-inspired artwork?

When the love of your life is an alum of Louisiana State University and a former football player, you quickly learn to become an LSU fan — and before you know it, you’re bleeding purple and gold right along with him. From the boisterous tailgating to the roar of Death Valley on game day, there’s an energy around LSU that’s impossible to ignore.

Painting Mike the Tiger became my way of expressing that newfound love in a way that felt true to my style. By using vibrant purples and golds and layering in textured florals, I wanted to celebrate LSU’s spirit while adding a sense of beauty and joy that feels distinctly mine

4. How does living in New Orleans shape your use of color, texture, and celebration in your paintings?

New Orleans is unapologetically creative. Vibrant color and self-expression is everywhere - in architecture, parades, costumes, artwork, florals, nature, food, and music. Living in New 
Orleans - riding and parading in different Krewes, exploring the history of the French Quarter, taking in the beauty of it’s live oaks and southern flowers - has deeply influenced my work. This city embraces boldness, and it’s given me permission to do the same.

5. What do you hope someone feels when a piece of your work lives in their home? 

I want my textured paintings to bring joy and a sense of wonder into people’s lives. I hope my artwork feels like a celebration on the wall, something that makes you smile, pause, and feel connected to a place, a feeling, or a memory. My goal is for collectors to feel like the painting belongs to them, like it was always meant to live in their space. 

6. Can you describe your creative process from blank canvas to finished piece? 

I usually start with a loose idea or feeling rather than a strict plan. I paint the background first using brushes and palette knives, then slowly layer in texture, color, and movement. A lot of the process is intuitive, responding to what I feel the painting needs in the moment. I work in layers, letting the textured paint dry on the canvas, then coming back in with fresh eyes to add another layer of texture. The “messy middle” is the part that’s the hardest. It’s the stage in the creative process where you want to toss the painting out the window and start over, but you power through and something amazing comes out the other side. The final stages are all about balance and refinement - and then of course it’s time to paint the sides of canvas and find the perfect frame.

7. How do you decide when a painting is finished? 

This is always the question! I know a piece is finished when I can step away and genuinely 
smile, when nothing needs to be added or taken away. There’s a point where the painting feels settled, like it’s holding its own energy and ready to find its forever home. That’s when I stop. 

8. What makes an original Lora Marden painting different from a print or reproduction? 

My original paintings are heavily textured and highly dimensional. They truly have a presence that can’t be fully captured in a photo - many of my collectors say that the paintings are even more beautiful once they arrive in-person. Each piece is built by hand using palette knives, layer by layer, and no two are ever the same. When you collect an original, you’re getting the full experience of the texture, movement, and craftsmanship that defines my artwork.

9. How do you think about creating cohesive collections versus one-off works? 

I love creating collections because they allow me to explore a theme more deeply. Each piece can stand on its own, but together they tell a larger story. For collectors, collections offer a way to build something cohesive over time while still choosing pieces that personally resonate. I strive to launch a small number of new collections each year as well as stand-alone paintings so my collectors always have something to look forward to. 

10. What advice would you give to someone collecting original art for the first time? 

Buy what you love. Don’t be restrained by decorating trends - choose a piece that speaks to you and feels right for you, not what you think you should buy. Original art is meant to be lived with and become a part of your every day life. If a piece of artwork brings you joy every time you see it, that’s the right choice!