Husband: Tyler Johnson
Kids: Camille, 2, Marshall, 4 Months
Occupation: Artist and Gallery Owner
Hobbies: Taking walks around City Park, yoga, and trying new restaurants in the city.
Meet Casey, a New Orleans artist known for capturing the charm of the South and the simple joys of everyday life. She carries that same perspective into motherhood, seeing the world through the eyes of her children and finding joy in the little moments. With two kids under two, she’s learning to take each day as it comes and stay present in what matters most. Alongside her family, Casey also runs her gallery on Magazine Street, where her paintings fill the space with warmth and reflect her heart and intention. Whether she’s painting a new piece, planning her next trip, or simply laying low with her family, Casey’s sense of wonder and appreciation for life’s simple beauties shines through in everything she does.
What is the most rewarding and the most challenging part of your career?
Casey: I really think the most rewarding part is creating a business that not only supports my family, but brings beauty to others in our community, and hopefully builds a meaningful legacy for my kids. The most challenging part is learning to balance being proactive in work while being fully present with my children without slipping into burnout. It’s a constant tug of war, and over time, I’ve learned to prioritize what really matters. I think it’s just learning to shift my priorities to be more patient and flexible and letting go of perfection.
Has having kids influenced your art?
Casey: It definitely has. I love creating jovial pieces that have a sense of wonder, like children have. I’ve actually created multiple nursery collections with each of my pregnancies and that has been so fun. I also find that, in general, I have a little bit more tenderness in my artwork, and I think that’s just because motherhood has shifted my perspective.
What has motherhood taught you?
Casey: To ask for help. Whenever I had kids, I learned that it takes a village to balance both a job and family, and so I’ve learned to ask for help from family–my family is incredible and will help with my kids when I need to work. I also have a team hired for my business and they have taken a lot of day-to-day tasks off of my list of things to do. I’ve also learned to outsource a lot of things, like groceries deliveries and laundry help. I just have let go of doing it all myself and that has been really freeing, and it’s allowed me to be more present both as a mom and an artist.
What might surprise people about you?
Casey: I love to travel. I really love booking trips and planning things–fun adventures. Of course, I’ve been going on fewer trips now that I have two little ones, but we really enjoy taking them places and just experiencing something new. We took our daughter to Iceland and Norway last year, and it was an incredible experience. We love the unimpeded family time together and seeing beautiful waterfalls and hiking–that type of trip is really up our alley, seeing incredible views.
How would you describe your parenting style?
Casey: I’m still learning every day, especially with a toddler, but my goal is to be firm, but fun. It doesn’t always work out [that way], but that’s what I would love to do–to basically choose my battles with my toddler. If I have a certain boundary, sticking to it, but also letting her have as much fun as she can. If she wants to sing in the grocery store, you bet I’m going to let her do that.
What do you hope your kids will learn from watching you pursue your passion?
Casey: I hope they learn that they can do anything that they put effort, time, and care into. That they can completely design a life that they love, and they don’t need to fall into the typical what’s expected of them. They can pave their own path.
How do you spend quality time with your family?
Casey: We love taking the kids to the zoo and city park and all of the wonderful festivals that New Orleans offers. We are really intentional about being outside together and present and letting both of them explore new things. It’s really fun to experience the world through their eyes in whatever we’re doing with them.
What are you looking forward to?
Casey: I really look forward to slowing down and just enjoying this time with my kids while they’re still little and impressionable. It’s such a fleeting time. Prior to kids, I worked all the time to get the gallery and my artwork off the ground, and now that I have opened the gallery and have a team, I can have the freedom to be with my kids more, which has been incredible. So really, instead of looking forward to what’s next, I’m just enjoying the now.
My favorite artist of all time is…Claude Monet.
The best way to unwind is…laying in the hammock reading a book.
My dream travel spot is…New Zealand.
Three things that make me happy are…dessert, coffee, and my kids.
I never leave the house without…emergency snacks.