molly magwire

Molly McGuire (aka Magwire) has happy memories of the traveling carnival that came to her hometown as a child.

Now, the Louisiana painter documents those special times and people in her art: circus-style banners.

Artist: Born and grew up in Ontario, Canada. Her parents exposed her to art, but the only formal training they would allow her to learn was a sign-painting course in community college, where she earned a BFA at a time when the industry was going digital/vinyl.

In 1995, she moved to New Orleans to work as a musician (she played bass guitar) then later to Los Angeles for seven years. For extra money, Magwire worked on movie sets as a muralist and scenic/sign painter. IN 2008, she moved back to New Orleans and quit playing in bands.

Company/studio: Since 2008, Magwire Art has been based in New Orleans. The artist’s studio is in Folsom, a quiet town about an hour from the city. Magwire also maintains a showroom in an apartment in Uptown New Orleans.

In the beginning: Behind Magwire’s childhood home in Ontario, there was a gravel pit, and for one week each year, a traveling carnival would be set up there.

“It would explode into a bustling whirlwind of activity—lights, music, games, rides — everything a kid could love, all in her own backyard,” said Magwire.

She would sneak in when they were setting up. The carnival crew let her ride for free, showed her how the games were rigged and told her about their adventures.

“It was the first time I felt like I fit in,” said Magwire.

Years later, the early exposure to carnival acts and people influenced her art. So did the mystery and history of New Orleans, where she settled.

Art & materials: Hand-painted carnival banners and poster-style art based on contemporary mythology, folklore and legends. She signs her work as “Magwire.”

Magwire uses recycled oil and tinted house paint on repurposed canvas drop cloths that ended up in the dumpster on movie and TV sets. (Paintings, $1,250 to $5,765. Prints, $50 to $300).

What’s popular:

Wall of Death, daredevils on motorcycles in a motordome.
Zoltar, a fortune teller.
Nine Boozes series.

Favorite or must-have tools: Mahl stick and dagger stripers

Inspirations:

Carnival Posters
Circus Banners
Magician Posters
Art Nouveau
French Poster Art
Secret Society Banners

Fun, special or unusual commissions:

Paint the Tulane Alumni Poster for 2025. The poster will be revealed April 22.
Paint the circus banners for American Horror Story, “Freakshow” series on FX (2014-2015).
Paint the Rex Proclamation Poster for 2020.

Rex Proclamation of Carnival season, which occurs every year on January 6, declares the kick-off of the Carnival/Mardi Gras celebrations. Since 1980, the Rex Organization has selected a local artist to create an art print/poster that highlights the year’s theme and celebration.

Recent award: Award of Excellence at the Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival in Pensacola, FL. 2024.

What’s new: Working on a Storyville tryptic that will be an homage to E.J. Bellocq, an American photographer known posthumously for his images of prostitutes in Storyville, a red-light district in New Orleans in the early 20th century.

What’s next: An exhibition at Revolution Gallery, Buffalo, NY. June 2-July 8.

Where to buy: At art festivals and: