Jay McKay, a self-taught artist and muralist from New Orleans, LA, utilizes bold, bright color palettes to evoke joy and hope in his pieces. He explores themes such as childhood nostalgia, love, and cultural celebration, creating works that are visually stunning and emotionally resonant.

Jay’s affinity for art was harnessed from a young age through his connection with the Mardi Gras Indian tradition. He was introduced to the culture at the age of 3, after his grandfather handcrafted his first suit. Now, as an adult, Jay continues this tradition, handcrafting his own suit through intricate beading styles.

As an adolescent, Jay attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Art, further harnessing his artistic interests and skills. But in 2006, when Jay was 15, his life was shifted forever after Hurricane Katrina. He relocated from his hometown to Washington D.C. where he learned most of his painting techniques on his own. While in Washington D.C., he was presented with the opportunity to travel to Cape Town, South Africa, where he studied African Art. These opportunities have contributed to his trajectory now as a full-time visual artist.

Jay’s artistry has been a pillar in the beautification of the city of New Orleans. Jay has multiple permanent mural installations around the city, namely at Baldwin & Co, Mr. Wolf Espresso, Turkey and the Wolf, Canopy Hotel, and the Freedom School.

His painting works have been exhibited in numerous art fairs and museum exhibits. Most recently, his work was on view in group exhibits at the TLG Gallery (Long Island, NY, 2024), the New Orleans African American Museum (New Orleans, LA, 2023), BUTTER Art Fair (Indianapolis, IN, 2023), Bulls Fest (Chicago, IL, 2023), Thinkspace Projects (Los Angeles, CA, 2023), and NADA Curated (Online Gallery, 2022)