In her life time, Clyde Connell became a, as Neil Johnson puts it, a “homegrown, internationally celebrated, truly original artist.” Born in 1901, Connell lived her entire life in Louisiana. Her early art, created while living on the penal farm her husband managed, is, comparatively realistic and traditional. Connell’s later art, created while living on the shores of Lake Bistineau, shows her exposure to the abstract expressionism movement. Connell created her art using many mediums and materials, from found object sculptures to oil paintings.
Pat Sewell
Pat Sewell, the great-nephew of Clyde Connell and a practicing Shreveport psychiatrist, lives on Lake Bistineau and creates art just as his Aunt did.
Much of Sewell’s art currently on display at the Museum first came there in 2011 as a part of the exhibit “Consider This.” A taste of that exhibit can be seen in the video below, created by Robert Trudeau. His artist’s statement from that exhibit can be downloaded here:Pat Sewell- Artists Statement-LSEM 2011
Swamp Song, Clyde Connell, 1968
Photo taken by LSEM Curator Nita Cole
in Connell’s Lake Bistineau dining room
Swamp Song is currently on display at LSEM
Further Reading
- This file, originally written by Neil Johnson for the Forum, was used with permission by LSEM staff to create a flyer for our exhibit of Clyde Connell’s work. LSEM- Clyde Connell Flyer- by Johnson
- This webpage, written by Charlotte Moser, is incredibly useful for anyone wishing to know more of Connell’s life and work.
- Connell is not know merely by Louisianians, but nationally, as is evidenced by this article about her in the New York Times.
- For a more detailed biography of Pat Sewell, try this article from Louisiana Medical News.
- To see more of Pat Sewell’s art, check out his website.
Banner photo: Collage, Clyde Connell, c. 1970, detail. On Loan to LSEM by Carol Connell.
