Join local artist Mike Weary for an in-depth exploration of painting and self-reflection through his scientifically informed technique of painting upside down. Participants will be able to work with acrylic paint on canvas. All supplies for the class will be provided. Just bring an open mind! 

During the workshop, participants will also have the opportunity to visit Weary’s exhibition, The Rise of the House of Weary, currently on view in LASM’s Main Gallery upstairs, where he will offer a brief tour of his work.

Mike Weary is a community organizer and self-taught painter from South Louisiana whose work explores the lived experiences of African Americans in the American South. Born in New Orleans and now based in Baton Rouge, he paints histories of endurance, joy, and grief while encouraging dialogue about identity, memory, and the lasting impact of the past. Influenced early by his mother, an illustrator, Weary combines materials such as rusted iron, patinated copper, and oil with expressive palette knife techniques that leave visible marks of labor and emotion. Through this approach, his work confronts systemic inequities while allowing beauty and pain to exist side by side.