I first began my career as a scenic artist in 1992, while attending Atlanta College of Art. painting scenery for corporate parties, murals and faux finishes on trade show booths for Nike and LA Gear, as well as on films such as “RoboCop III” and “Consenting Adults”. I landed my first experience creating exhibit work was and murals for the “Water Works Museum” in Clanton, AL.  

In 1996, I was inspired to move to the more culturally vibrant New Orleans. I was immediately hired by Kern Sculpture, and one of my first projects for them are the three larger-than-life alligators playing instruments which still grace the front entrance of the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. I soon moved onto Spangenberg Studios, producing scenery for Mardi Gras balls, then became the scenic charge the the company was purchased by Maloney Productions (2001-2004), and worked simultaneously as the scenic charge at Southern Repertory Theatre (2002-2006). I left to once again freelance, and my main client for the next 10 years was the Audubon Institute. I executed many murals for the Aquarium’s Changing Exhibit area, as well as building and painting exhibits for the Audubon Zoo, Insectarium, and now defunct Nature Center. I also designed and painted murals in many privately-owned homes and businesses, such as McMillian’s First Steps and the Magnolia Mansion.

In 2007, an educational chapter of my life began when I was approached by Clarence Becknell to lead two groups of high school art students in executing two educational murals, at McMain High School (2009) and Warren-Easton High School (2010), with the theme of the historical contribution of the Buffalo Soldiers. Soon after, I designed and led an educational mural project for the House of Blues Foundation with the theme, “New Orleans: A Canvas for the Imagination”. In 2014, I was invited to be the Artist-in-Residence at Isodore Newman School, working with the students in both middle and high school to visually express their feelings about the Diminishing Wetlands in mural form. I did many projects while also supplementing my income by painting floats, especially for Bacchus, Endymion, Muses and Orpheus.

The most significant mural work I have done to date has been two large-scale murals on either side of Breaux Mart located in Uptown New Orleans. One features a 45’ alligator and a 6’ tall nutria, while the other depicts scenes of people buying and selling groceries in New Orleans during the 19th Century.

In the past years, Bernardi has further developed her style in the portrayal of local musicians in their own act of creation- on stage while improvising. Many of these works were exhibited at the club where these works were first inspired and conceived, and have been recently released in a 2021 calendar featuring 12 of these selected works entitled “The Sidebar NOLA Series”. Her mural work continues with a recent collaboration with New Orleans muralist Jamar Pierre, and with a commission currently in development for the Louisiana Pepper Exchange.

Describe your art in three words.

A moment captured.

Describe yourself in one word.

Enthusiastic.

What do you love the most about creating art in New Orleans? What particular part of your immediate environment, in your neighborhood specifically influences your work?

As evidenced in my portraits of musicians, their collective creative forces deeply inspire me to paint as well as make my own music.  The art of New Orleans tends toward bold color in an attempt to resonate the vibrantly psychic pulse of the city, and I am happy to "be in that number".

Describe your creative process. Are there any rituals or rites of passage you exercise before you begin a new piece?

Sometimes what I produce is directly from what I see, especially if I have hired a model to pose for me.  Sometimes it is from an internal image that I seek to manifest.  Either way, I often begin by prepping my custom-stretched canvas with washes to create the look of aged paper.  I then build up in washes, trying to allow the background to peek through and merge uniquely with the foreground image.

Where do you draw inspiration?

The intuitive nature of women and the power they possess as life-giving entities, spiritually even more than in the physical realm, is an inner power which I tap into as a creator, and also spurs me to outwardly express this phenomenon on canvas...  I am trying to tap into the eternal thread that runs through us rather than the current moment.

Who are your artistic influences or gurus?

I really love the mural work of both Diego Rivera and Thomas Hart Benton, though I realize my work does not reflect the social realist message of their work for the reason I stated above.  I think Salvador Dali may have been the greatest artist of all time because he was able to express an incredible inner vision onto his canvases, both immense and small.  I adore Leonardo DaVinci for his pursuit of life-long learning above creating any one image.  Truthfully, I learn something from every piece of art I see. 

In New Orleans, art and music go hand in hand. What type of music, band or song lyric best describes your work?

Nina Simone's "Wild is the Wind" or Nat King Cole's "Nature Boy" have messages that deeply resonate with me.

Where can we find you when you are not creating art?

Playing music with my band, the Souvenaires.

What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?

Every moment feels like the tide rushing to shore for me.  I'm just trying to stay on the board!

What is something people don’t know about you? A fun fact.

I co-produced and co-starred in one of the first modern-style burlesque shows called, "GoGo & Torchy's Taboo Revue", which took place in Midtown Atlanta in 1994.

All works listed online are available to be viewed at Where Y’Art Gallery by appointment.

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