About Holly Sarre’…
Accomplished contemporary folk artist Holly Sarre is the latest member of her family to capture the beauty and complexity of New Orleans and southern Louisiana on canvas since the 1800s. Holly’s artistic legacy includes, among others, Henry W. Sarre’ (b. 1829) and Carmen G. Sarre’ (b. 1895), who were among the first New Orleans artists to be recognized as Who Was Who in American Art, and their works are still sought-after by collectors today.
Like Sarres before her, Holly’s work embraces classicism in the iconic New Orleans imagery she chooses as her subjects, but her execution is decisively contemporary. Her Brass Bands, First and Second Lines, Mardi Gras Flambeaux as well as the city’s renowned architecture and cemeteries come alive in a rich, vivid Creole palette. At once her canvasses pay heartfelt homage to the city she loves, but also surge with passion and emotion, ranging from joy to despair.
Of particular note is the highly collectible Flood Series Sarre created post-Katrina. In her stunning architectural renderings she depicts a beautiful vibrant cityscape that on closer inspection mirrors a city’s aspirational response to tragedy. Some say inspirational as well. Her paintings precipitated by the BP oil leak are similarly wrought with feelings spiraling out of control.
Sarre’s work has been recognized in juried competitions across the country. She has been a featured artist at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival on multiple occasions and her collection hailed by critics as a “must-see.”
Prior to returning home to New Orleans to become a full-time artist, Holly founded the New York Speakers Bureau in Manhattan where she helped launch the lecture careers of other artists. . She lives and paints in uptown New Orleans.
