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Rau for Art

The Rau for Art Foundation is dedicated to the promotion of talented emerging artists at the high school level, and awarding their artistic achievement.

05/26/2026

Presenting the winners of the RFA 2026 Scholarship Competition! This year's finalists brought an outstanding level of artistry and originality to the gallery. We extend our sincere gratitude to the participating students and the teachers who continue to champion creative expression.

1st Place: Gracie Eckstein, "Shalom Aleichem"
2nd Place: Zoe Estrada, "Light of My Life"
3rd Place: Maddie Caputo, "Sitting with the Past"
4th Place: Hannah Wen, "Home"

04/14/2026

To conclude our finalist series, meet Zoé Estrada, a 12th Grade student at Alfred Bonnabel Magnet Academy High School, presenting the piece "Light of My Life."

Artist Statement: "This painting is a portrait of my younger self that represents my personal growth and journey toward becoming who I am. The dark forest symbolizes the unknown paths that lie ahead — uncertain, intimidating, yet full of possibility. It reflects the future I have not yet lived, but am brave enough to enter. The lantern represents my curiosity and inner drive to learn, explore, and travel. It is not meant to illuminate everything at once, but just enough to move forward with intention and hope. The light suggests that growth does not come from knowing all the answers, but from having the courage to seek them. My long hair holds deep personal meaning. My mother once told me that hair carries memories, and in this painting, it represents the experiences and moments that have shaped me into who I am becoming. Flowing behind me, it connects my past to my present as I move toward the future. My name, Zoé, means 'Life,' which reflects the core message of this work: growth, resilience, and the continual process of becoming."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/13/2026

Our next finalist is Melina Alipio, an 11th Grade student at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, presenting the piece "Rose of Gold."

Artist Statement: "This piece was created to represent the embrace of light and color. I find stained glass to be a beautiful work of art and wanted to incorporate it into this piece. Given how difficult it is to paint glass, especially with multiple layers of color, I wanted to challenge myself and push my boundaries as a level III visual art student at NOCCA. I wanted to paint the colorful reflection of the lamp on my face, given that self-portraits are already hard to do. By taking the time to perfect the placement of color in contrast to the dark setting surrounding the lamp, this piece is by far one of my favorites done on canvas."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/10/2026

Our next finalist is Gabriella Gugel, a 12th Grade student at The Willow School, presenting the piece "Hawaii '25."

Artist Statement: "This piece, titled Hawaii '25, is a part of a series for a solo show, to take place at the end of my 4-year art program at my school. The series is a collection of landscapes referencing self-shot photographs, taken of scenes during memorable times. The works both honor my memories and the natural sphere, but also share my experiences in hopes to connect to the experiences of the viewer, representing shared themes of nostalgia, tranquility, and emotion. I primarily work with acrylics on medium to large canvases, but I also work with other water-based mediums like watercolor or gouache. Additionally, within this series, I include a couple symbolic stained glass pieces, a medium that has sparked creativity and experimental ideas to combine stained glass with acrylic. I am inspired by the brushwork of Post-Impressionism and the emotional and environmental depth of Romanticism, especially works created by artists like Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet, and Casper David Freidrich. This piece in particular showcases a view from a trip to Hawaii I took with my mother in January of 2025. This trip occurred during a very tumultuous time in my life, but this scene serves as a representation of embracing the light in a land cast in shadow, finding peace in hard times. The overwhelming darkness highlights the impact of light, creating both a powerful metaphor and an effective contrast in color. I am very proud and excited to showcase this painting and my other works in my senior show, which will be up in my school's gallery during the first week of February. I intend to create more works under the same concept, cultivating my artistic skills and exploring more mediums. I look forward to experiencing more memories that will affect my art, both educationally and socially."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/09/2026

Our next finalist is Alexis Noel, an 11th Grade student at Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies, presenting the piece "The Throw Down."

Artist Statement: "'The Throw Down' shows a frame by frame depiction of one of my throw downs (in softball when a catcher makes a throw to second base to try to get an out on the runner that is on the bases) during one of my games. The light from the sun creates a bright highlight which has a stark contrast to shadow covering my body. With the art having four separate panels you can't see the in between of the action, just like lights and shadows, you can only see part of the story. Everything comes together because my art is set on a film slide waiting to be developed which symbolizes my own growth and development as an athlete and a person has come together in pieces."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/08/2026

Our next finalist is Elliot Schayot, a 10th Grade student at Haynes Academy for Advanced Studies, presenting the piece "Alley Cats."

Artist Statement: "I created this piece to depict stray cats that live in the French Quarter, surrounded by lights, shadows, and everything in between. Growing up with cats, I sympathize with strays that need a home, and that's what this piece is about. It was important to me to give each cat in the composition a different personality to tell a story of the cats being trapped in this outdoor space and being devoid of love. To give the subject personality, I was inspired by Margaret Keane when painting the subject's eyes to emphasize the cat's emotion when he sees the viewer."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/07/2026

Our next finalist is Maggie Lob, a 12th Grade student at Ursuline Academy, presenting the piece "Shadow Play."

Artist Statement: "This is a part of my AP Art portfolio where I used a medium of pen and ink. My idea for this piece stemmed from making shadow puppets with my hands when I was little. I would go outside searching for a perfect sunny spot; however, this was proven difficult because of the two large oak trees that canopy my front and back yard. This is a depiction of me finding a spot between leafy shadows, sunny enough to make a butterfly with my hands. The focal points of this piece are the figure and the shadow that she casts. I was intrigued by a figure having its face hidden by shadow, yet still intelligible. Guided by the figure and shadow, my goal was to have the viewer's eyes smoothly led from left to right."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/06/2026

Our next finalist is Marie Clair Killeen, a 12th Grade student at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, presenting the piece "Taking Rest."

Artist Statement: "Delicate strokes and careful attention describe my approach to painting. In a world where everything seems to move quickly, each person gazes on as to move another day. Life in so many ways often becomes monotonous, routine, and dark. Sometimes it is taking rest that can illuminate not only an overwhelming moment, but a headspace. My painting Taking Rest details just that feeling. I painted this portrait of my closest friend, Brenda. Brenda works tirelessly for her family, often sacrificing her own dreams to preserve their safety. By painting her covered in light and at a moment of rest, I pay tribute to all that she does. More than made apparent by light, she is appreciated by all those around her. Brenda is my light, and her dedication can be seen through layers of acrylic, her struggles shown through harsh shadows."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/03/2026

Our next finalist is Maddie Caputo, a 12th Grade student at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, presenting the piece "Sitting with the Past."

Artist Statement: "This piece explores grief through the faces of light. A cool, white light shines from a doorway, illuminating a translucent, ghost light figure. Depicting the person I've lost, Opposite to this, a warm lamp glowing from behind me, symbolizing the comforting embrace of grief, the journey towards acceptance, and the finding of happiness within it. These contrasting lights reveal different sides of my experience with loss. The white light shows the lingering presence of the one who is gone. The warm light, on the other hand, speaks to the unexpected comfort grief can offer, the finding of acceptance and the discovery of peace within loss. Ultimately, this work conveys that while a person may be gone, their presence still remains in ways. They live on in the choices we make, the memories we created, and who we become. Knowing someone deeply shaped you in ways you wouldn't even know. Affecting your character in some of the craziest times and even the calm quiet moments alone."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

04/02/2026

Our next finalist is Gracie Eckstein, an 11th Grade student at New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts, presenting the piece "Shalom Aleichem."

Artist Statement: "Every Friday, as afternoon gives way to evening, I step outside into the characteristic New Orleans humidity and begin the walk to my synagogue. These weekly walks are important to me. They are for far more than just introspection. They are a time during which I reflect on my environment. I look outward and observe the world. I know the pathway well; it is lined with beautiful architecture and nature in the form of interspersed green spaces. Then, as the sun dips below the horizon, everything begins to change. It feels as though my environment is ushering me to my destination. I am always especially struck by the angel statues that stand apart, pointing me forward as I near the conclusion of my journey. Such angel imagery certainly leans more Christian in association, yet on my Sabbath walks, it is recontextualized. I am reminded of the poem Shalom Aleichem, which often greets me as I walk through the doors of my synagogue into services. It is a poem which literally welcomes in the angels that are said to arrive for Shabbat. When darkness cloaks my neighborhood, and the street lights switch on, my Shabbat angels come alive. Light is a truly magical thing. It can bring the inanimate to life and make you feel as though you are one with your environment as the same light that paints it washes over you. Light also has the incredible power to recontextualize, just as my Jewish perspective recontextualizes the Christian and Southern environment that I inhabit. In my piece, I aim to capture the special feeling that immerses me as I see the angels in a new light, beckoning me towards Shabbat."

*These are posted in no particular order.*

Address

630 Royal Street
New Orleans, LA
70130

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Wednesday	10am - 5pm
Thursday	10am - 5pm
Friday	10am - 5pm
Saturday	10am - 5pm
Sunday	10am - 5pm

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