JAMNOLA is an immersive art exhibit celebrating the street culture of New Orleans. Their first location opened in 2020, occupying 5,000 sq ft on Royal Street in the Marigny neighborhood. In 2025 they opened in a new location at 940 Frenchman St in the former Binder Bakery.
Lady Paradise Studio
JAMNOLA
Rougerie, 2025
“Julianne Lagniappe’s interior decor is both sexy and very, very strange” (Doug McCash, Times Picayunne 2025)
The Rougerie is a tribute to women who came before us. Rooted in the historic red light district known as Storyville, I draw connection between those savvy madames and Madame CJ Walker, the first female and first black self-made millionaire in the USA, who built a business on selling haircare products door to door. Oozing with ambiguous sensuality, this space can also be interpreted through a maternal lens. Yes: a family-friendly brothel experience!
Rather than illustrating history, the mademoiselles are conjured in your imagination. The first focal point in the Parlor is a menagerie of “hair” textures, made from ropes, vinyls, and other materials to represent the complexities of hair as a defining mammalian quality that has been a sumptuary fixation throughout the history of the world. Legs dance on the ceiling while a curtain of gloves strokes anyone who walks within reach. Lingerie-inspired lamp shades hang throughout the room, barely concealing the illuminated totems within. Platters, plates, and dishes explore the nuances of service: from feeding others (plastic picnic and formal chargers), to “serving cunt”, to the satisfaction of Salome.
Three antique beds are featured in the room. A confessional space is adorned with lathed furniture legs scavenged from trash piles (literally street walkers). Architecture blends with upholstery, teasing you with a peek, luring you deeper while surrounding you with domestic delight.
I am so proud of this piece. I truly maximized my 200 sq ft while still creating an intimate space, and every sightline is a beautiful composite.
Special thanks to Karen Curtis Schubert and Sarah Wardell for lampshade assistance, Amy Chouest for making 120 braids, Ashley Sercovich for gloves and general sanity, Matt Whitcomb for stripes and crown molding, and Daniel Patterson for building support.
For the full attitude, please listen to the ARTIST’S OFFICIAL ROUGERIE PLAYLIST.
Fountain of You, 2025
Upon ascension to the mezzanine, the viewer is presented with the former Feather Forest completely re-interpreted onto a single wall that is not quite flat, evoking the Waterlilies series of Claude Monet’s late phase (hey Art History degree). Every single feather has been transported to the surreal nest, where they mingle into the nest woven by Shel Roumillat and the three by Will Nemitoff. Overhead are illuminated nests woven by the disco birds of JAMNOLA (as woven by Abby Wetsman).
Taking center stage is the “Fountain of You”a classic trick photography set: the figurehead’s face is actually a mirror, the viewer can position themselves so their own face is reflected. When the guest drops a doubloon into the fountain, the LEDs embedded in the resin “water” respond with a ripple animation. Electric engineering was provided by Nolan Beaver & crew, one of the best parts of this project.
The balcony railing features botanical designs by Catherine Todd, which are cut from pkywood and backlit against radiant heat barrier. Thanks to Will Walston and Markell Lumber for making this possible! As well as Matty Whitcomb, Ashley Sercovich, and Daniel Patterson.
The ottomonas are all made by Julianne, with 18″ elevation to satisfy the local requirement for topless dancing), high density foam, and glitter vinyl upholstery.
Feather Forest, 2020
Feather Forest is an installation I created for JAMNOLA in spring 2020. In my imagination, it’s the story of a classic Creole mansion that has been abandoned to fantastic catastrophe. The room is disorientingly dark, which helps the visitor reset their mind from the world outside.
The walls are bursting with feathers made from warehouse remnants. The fireplace and door molding are made from styrofoam packaging from the street. Chandeliers scavenged from hoarder houses are painted, beaded, covered with blossoms and feathers cut from plastic bottles. The ceiling slithers with shower curtain leaves and electric vines.
I couldn’t have achieved this project without my dedicated assistants. Ashley Sercovich and Anne Davis were essential to design and production throughout, and TK Johnson was an installation hero. A lot of other hands helped in so many ways. Creative curation was designed by Where Y’Art Works.
Photos courtesy of Jen Hayes with Stay Posh Photography.