This is a painting I did after a trip to New Orleans of Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau (1801-1881). She was known as a religious leader and community activist in New Orleans. She was of African, Native American and French descent and practiced a form of African and Native American spiritualism known as Voodoo which became syncretized with Catholic and Francophone culture. She was a midwife, nurse and herbalist that held theatrical, public rituals at Bayou St. John and Congo Square for healing and protection that confounded many unaccustomed onlookers. Her daughter (also named Marie) was more flamboyant and also a practitioner of voodoo. History often confuses her with her mother as Voodoo Queen. They were both sought-after hairdressers for wealthy Creole and American women and they used this position to gain power and prestige by becoming confidantes and sometimes Voodoo practitioners to these powerful citizens.
