Artist Monique Noel is bringing her signature blend of emotion, color, and authenticity to the Dallas art scene with a new gallery showcase opening Friday, October 24, at E Gallery Studios on Dragon Street.
Raised in New Orleans and now based in Tyler, Texas, Noel is known for her vivid, emotionally charged works that merge classical figure painting with modern abstraction. Her latest collection, Expressive Florals, explores the tension between societal expectations and the human drive for authenticity.
“I approach my paintings like writing poetry or music,” Noel said. “Creating an image based on a thought or a feeling is one of the most authentic things a human can do.”
Her pieces combine figure art and Rococo-inspired florals with complementary color theory and layered textures. The result is a style she describes as Abstract Realism — one that honors design structure while allowing emotion and spontaneity to emerge through brushstroke and composition.
Each painting begins with an AI-generated figure that serves as a foundation for human expression. Through the use of chiaroscuro and bright color palettes, Noel transforms digital form into tangible emotion — exploring vulnerability, freedom, and the process of becoming one’s truest self.
“The best part about being a Creative is that no one knows what you are going to do, so you can never do it wrong,” she said.
Noel’s artistic roots trace back to her education at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA) and the University of New Orleans, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Before relocating to Texas, she exhibited in Julia Street galleries and taught drawing and art history in New Orleans.
Her current work reflects both her academic training and her deep cultural connection to the Crescent City. “The use of bright color and figure art are influenced by the culture growing up in New Orleans,” she said. “Pushing the line of appropriate and flair is the very fiber that binds the city.”
The upcoming Dallas exhibition will feature a selection of her mixed-media oil and acrylic works, each piece inviting viewers to step into a conversation between emotion, identity, and design.
Gallery Exhibit Details
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 6 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Location: E Gallery Studios, 1110 Dragon Street, Dallas, Texas
Website: www.moniquenoelgallery.com