We’re looking forward to introducing you to Karen La Beau. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Karen, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I start with a 20-minute walk to clear my mind and set my energy for the day.
Back at my desk, I send and respond to emails, keeping my connections and commitments on track.
Finally, I create my to-do list—mapping out my priorities and setting the tone for a productive, intentional day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Karen La Beau—a visual artist, author, and cultural bearer from New Orleans, now based in Shreveport, Louisiana. My work blends painting, storytelling, and Creole culinary traditions to preserve and celebrate my heritage. In March 2025, I published A Creole Lady’s Stories & Recipes, pairing my original artwork with family stories and recipes named for the streets and neighborhoods that shaped my life. Whether on canvas, in the kitchen, or through community workshops, my mission is to honor culture, inspire creativity, and keep tradition alive.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
My mother shaped the person I am today by instilling in me the values of resilience, creativity, and pride in my Creole heritage. She taught me that culture is something you live every day through the meals you cook, the stories you tell, and the way you care for your community. Her love for family, her strength in the face of challenges, and her deep connection to New Orleans are threads that run through everything I create, from my paintings to my writing.
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
The fear of hearing “no” has held me back many times in life. As an artist, you have to learn to accept the no’s and celebrate the yeses. I remind myself that a “no” never hurt anybody—it’s simply part of the journey. Each one is an opportunity to be objective, grow, and take the experience as a lesson for what’s next.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
The “Karen” the public sees carries pieces of my true self, but only my close circle of family and friends truly know the whole me.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say I lived a life rooted in creativity, culture, and connection. I used my art, my words, and my kitchen to preserve the beauty family traditions and recipes. I want to be remembered as someone who shared her gifts generously, inspired others to embrace their own creativity, and left behind colors, flavors, and stories that will keep telling themselves long after I’m gone. It won’t hurt for them to remember how I loved to travel and be a free spirt!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.karentlabeau.com
- Instagram: @KarenLabeau
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Karenvisualartist/
Image Credits
Veronica Brown and Dyra Turner took two of the images shown
