Paul Schexnayder

Colorful Narrative Artist

Biography

Paul Schexnayder has been a professional (color-blind) artist for more than 30 years.   He graduated with a BFA in Painting and Drawing from LSU in 1988.  He still follows his college professor’s advice to draw every day.  After 4 years teaching art in the Boston area, he moved back to New Iberia to be a full-time artist.  He has been selected as the official artist for many local and state festivals.   His work has been in numerous solo and group exhibitions throughout the United States.

Schexnayder is also an award-winning children’s author/illustrator. He has had three picture books published with University of Louisiana Press and three by Pelican Publishing. His first children’s board book, I Know My Louisiana Colors was released in 2024 and in 2025, he second in his series, The Gumbo Gators and the Swamp Circus will be released. Paul has also won several awards for his short animation films.  Since 2018, he has completed 5 murals in and around his hometown of New Iberia. He also founded and co-founded many festivals, events and projects like the Bayou Teche Museum, George Rodrigue Park, the James Lee Burke statue (2024) and the New Iberia Art Walk.

Paul and his wife, Lee live in New Iberia, Louisiana and have three kids.  They have owned A & E Gallery for over 15 years which features over 10 local artists.  He has taught art for over 30 years and is currently a visual arts teacher in the Talent Program in Iberia parish.

Schexnayder’s work flow from narrative and whimsical to poetic and lyrical.  His signature colorful paintings are very recognizable and highly collectable.

Southern Living magazine called them “vibrant, vivacious paintings of Bayou State Life” and the Salem News said “Schexnayder's works represent the heart and soul of Louisiana”

Paul says he works best in series which are as fluid as a backyard bayou.