Introducing Marie Kimball

Marie Kimball is a self-proclaimed fun artist from Grand Coteau, Louisiana, who wholeheartedly believes in the power of public art. She is inspired by the human condition, lettering, portraiture, quiet teachings from nature, sustainability, and the untold stories of our past.

Growing up around the Acadiana artist community impacted her on a deep level, allowing her to see creative collaboration in everyday life. After graduating from Loyola University with a BFA in 2009, Kimball soaked in the creative electricity of living in New Orleans before returning to Lafayette in 2016. Upon her return to the land of the bayou, she reengaged her knowledge as a graphic designer, became an Accredited Ontological Coach, and reemerged as a creative for hire. She utilizes her learnings in Ontology (the connection of language-body-moods to how you show up in the world) to support herself as well as other artists to 'shift their stuck' and follow their own intuition. Over the next four years, she learned and worked with local legend Benny Graeff before exploring mural installation and custom designs on her own.

She collaborated with Fightingville Fresh Market in 2021 to create their community mural signage by engaging market visitors to contribute to the collaborative design. She has contributed designs to the ACA ArtBox program, participated in Basin Arts’ Window Wonderland event in 2024 and 2025, and was an ACA ArtSpark recipient for the 2025 cycle. Kimball's latest projects include working with artist Dirk Guidry on the Children's Museum mural, local signage design and installation, and creating art journals out of surplus paper.

Kimball currently circulates between Lafayette, New Orleans, Memphis, and Door County, where she works in graphic design under Marie Kimball Creative, assisting artists in cultivating their online presence. She continues to create custom murals that are organizationally aligned, as well as facilitating community events that invite members to become easily involved in the mural installation itself. This inclusion allows for a growing connection to the artwork, with other neighbors, and pride in place. Marie Kimball actively promotes the importance of public art, its massive impact on mental health, and its ability to impact economic development within the community in which it resides.

Who makes up your art circle?

My art circle includes artists of all ages who work in a range of media. I find that the more diverse your circle is, the greater your network of support and collaboration. We can only see and imagine so much on our own. My art circle allows me the gift of seeing different possibilities, both in my work and in life.

How do you expand your art circle?

Working on collaborative projects, shoulder to shoulder with other artists, and showing up in public art spaces (such as gallery openings, artist talks, volunteering with art organizations, and arts incubators like Basin Arts). It still amazes me when that unplanned magic happens in those types of spaces. When you are clear on a project or direction, and you show up in public art spaces, you just may magically find alignment with other people (sometimes it's the missing piece to bring your vision to life).

What value do you see in having a creative community?

The community itself. Creativity and art have a way of bringing us together, through shared experience and conversation, that seems so desperately needed in the world right now. We are more alike than we sometimes care to see, and I find that art has the unique ability of mixing people together that may never cross paths in any other way.

How does your artistic approach contribute to your community?

My approach to art is using it as a tool to create fun and joy in the everyday experience. I believe that all levels and types of artists are valuable and have the power to contribute in a powerful way. One of the experiences that really sticks with me is when we were creating the 115 foot collaborative community artwork for Fightingville Fresh Market's signage. There is an unhoused community in that area of town that would walk by the market space and say hello most of the days I was there working. One day, an older gentleman stopped and told me,"I'm so happy that y'all are putting up this artwork, the neighborhood could use some more color! It brightens my day to see the art, and I walk by here every day just to look at it." In that moment, I realized how deeply colors can affect people, even just passing by on the street. That is one of my experiences that has been a big part of why I prefer to work in public art. Public art has the power to bring people together, celebrate the community, and lift people's spirits all through something as simple as a coat of paint. It still blows my mind how simple it is; the hard part is getting out of your own way.