Artist Statement: In the year 2020, during Black History Month, I was commissioned by the NOCCA foundation to create a metal welded sculpture for the theme of activists or controversial thinkers in Black History such as Paul E. Robeson. This same sculpture I had the pleasure of gifting to the Legendary Pianist Ellis Marsalis before his passing later on in 2020 along with so many other losses. When I heard of Sing For Hope and their mission as an organization I was touched. I figured what better way to commemorate Mr.Marsalis than to dedicate my work to the instrument of his choice. In this I researched not just Mr.Marsalis’s work but also the influence of Professor Longhair and the continuation of communication through Jon Batiste. In my research Batiste finds that music humanizes people, thus the many silhouettes and figures interacting through my piano design. I believe struggle is shared in humanity and that music helps ease that struggle. Longhair shares similarity with this ideal, a musician who molded his life out of the blues and played to ease his struggle. He was known for innovation, invention, and education. Mr.Marsalis would go on to be known as a student and educator, a passion for learning and collaboration with pages we should take from his book. I look to my work as an homage to these great influential giants of the City of New Orleans.
As described by my teachers, peers, and parents, my tendencies as an artist resemble that of an urgency to create. I like to think my talent was passed down through my father, given that my brother is artistically inclined as well. Since the 2nd grade my career started, enrolling at NOCCA was when it skyrocketed. I learned not to limit my medium nor my mind and understood that my capabilities and opportunities were only as short as I let them be. From various sculpture, to fashion, to oil painting, gallery work and murals I have explored so much of the art world and yet still I have more. My career isn’t a job or shift, it’s an experience, my story of how I evolve through life’s hardship. My name is Andre Pellebon, I am a NOCCA Alumni, an Eternal Seeds and Belite collective member, UNO role model student, and most importantly an Artist. Despite all that I am I prefer to support and tell the story of others, by working with the NOCCA foundation and Belite (an African American youth lead collective) I’ve had the pleasure of working for various communities across New Orleans and will continue to improve the moral and livelihood of my city for as long as I draw breathe.
