About AMY
 

Amy Louise Palmer (1975-2012) 

Amy showed an interest in the visual arts from an early age. Inspired by trips with her mother to the New Orleans Museum of Art and equipped by her father with as much paper as she could draw on, Amy began painting her own world on paper at 3 years old. Amy continued to hone her craft, attending painting classes as a child, then moving onto advanced courses at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts & New Orleans Center for  Creative Arts (NOCCA). Upon graduating from high school, Amy attended the Savannah College of Art and Design, where she earned a BFA in Studio Art.

Amy's work references a deep connection to the feminine and nature at its purest, untamed form. Flowering plants, the nude female form and vibrant colors are all characteristics of her work. Although Amy did not follow in the school of one particular artist or movement, she did express a deep appreciation for Judy Chicago and the feminist artists of the 20th century. Many viewers have compared Amy's earlier work to Georgia O'Keeffe, an unabashed, pioneering woman of the arts.

Amy also believed in sharing her talent and creativity. She often led painting and art classes for young children. During her Summers, she taught at various camps throughout the city including Country Day's Creative Arts Camp and Ripples Camp at Tulane University.

Early into her career, Amy was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a neurological disease, which caused a myriad of disruptions to her artistic process including her ability to hold a paintbrush. Despite her physical limitations, Amy continued to create and used uncommon materials, such as dried flowers, and innovative techniques, such as applying paint to her wheelchair wheels, to paint the surface of her canvases. Amy was an inspiration to artists, who appreciated her commitment to her craft and determination to never allow her illness to diminish her creative spirit.

Amy passed away in 2012 after over a decade of battling MS. Her life and work had a profound affect on those around her. For years, her work was displayed in the Renaissance Arts Hotel in New Orleans' Arts District and in 2016, her father, Edwin "Mickey" Palmer debuted a French Quarter Hotel "La Galerie" dedicated to Amy. An original mural painted when Amy was a teenager and fine art prints of Amy's work can be seen in the lobby of "La Galerie" today.

Amy's life and legacy is also shared through "Amy's Art Cart", a project of Children's Hospital dedicated in her memory. Amy's cousin, Claire Thriffiley, began the program in 2014 as an annual fundraiser to support the mobile art program, a medical grade cart filled with art supplies and activities, that is taken from room to room so patients can enjoy the creativity that Amy loved to share. Since its inception, "Amy's Art Cart" has raised over $40,000 for Children's Hospital and distributed countless art supplies and activities to patients undergoing treatments and overcoming illnesses. Thriffiley, the founder of "Amy's Art Cart", was selected as a  "Local Hero" by the Times Picayune/NOLA.com in 2016 and received a "Healthcare Hero Award" in 2018 from New Orleans City Business for her volunteer work with "Amy's Art Cart".

This page and collection of Amy's work is a way to honor her memory and immense talent. Since Amy's family considers her original works "treasures", no originals are available, but fine art prints are offered for those interested in collecting and celebrating her talent. For more information on Amy, Amy's Art Cart or fine art prints of her work, please, contact us.