If you’ve seen the 2025 Rex proclamation poster — awash with vibrant swirls of teal punctuated on the top right by a Van Gogh-esque sunflower overlaid by “REX” lettering and filled with Belle Époque elements, including the Green Fairy, the Eiffel Tower and Moulin Rouge can can dancers — you’re familiar with artist Cynthia Sewell’s work. Sewell’s path to art has been circuitous, yet firmly rooted in a relentless pursuit of creative expression.
Born and raised in New Orleans, Sewell’s early ambition was to write and direct films. She worked as a production assistant on various projects, including “Candyman 2” and a Rolling Stones concert, gaining an appreciation for the behind-the-scenes work. A pivotal moment came when Sewell turned down a nanny role for actor Susan Sarandon, securing a job as a locations assistant on “Dead Man Walking” instead, after a crew member remembered her strong work ethic from another job.
“I would drive the crew, I would take the location photos … I just kind of did whatever, hoping that I would suddenly get my little spot,” says Sewell regarding her film career.
Sewell saved up and moved to New York, where she worked on films like “Sleepers” and “Donnie Brasco,” got married and became pregnant with her first child. Ultimately, Sewell returned to New Orleans to have her family’s support in raising her child. She faced personal challenges, including a divorce, and later, a period of isolation, living in the Florida Keys and Costa Rica while raising her children, including two more from a second marriage. Through it all, Sewell’s artistic drive remained, manifesting in various forms.
“In all of this, my art evolves,” says Sewell, who has also authored several children’s books. “It’s whether it’s, you know, moving furniture or decorating my friend’s house or painting walls or something, anything I [could] do because I [didn’t] have a lot of resources in [those] places.”
Sewell’s art, characterized by mixed-media collages, often reinterprets existing images to tell new stories. Inspired by Andy Warhol’s ability to elevate everyday objects into art, Sewell incorporates elements such as Coca-Cola bottles and imagery from her dad’s old National Geographic magazines. Her pieces, like “Nacho Libre,” weave together cultural references and personal narratives, reflecting her worldview and experiences.
After years of creating for herself and friends, Sewell embraced commissions in 2021, marking a new chapter that allows her to dedicate herself fully to her art. “I like to bring in the past and the future and show how it’s all cyclical and just breathing new life into old ways of thought,” says Sewell. “I want my art, to be joyful and curious and tell a story — whatever story you need it to be.”
Cynthia Sewell, @cynsewellart
