The Art of Rex
There are dozens of parades with courts and royalty
abounding, but there is only one King of Carnival.
For over 150 years, the Rex Organization has been the
single most visible and most prestigious parade of the New Orleans Mardi Gras,
sharing the center-stage of Fat Tuesday with the Zulu Social Aid and Pleasure
Club to create the defining cultural moment of all of Louisiana. Creating the
most elaborate floats in all of Mardi Gras and curating a civically-minded
philanthropical foundation to back up its proceedings, Rex has for generations
been both a merry climax for locals and something of an international cultural
ambassador. Even as far back as 1882, Mark Twain, who hardly cared for the full
extent of Carnival's pomp and circumstance, saw Rex as the undisputed
"chief personage" of New Orleans' biggest day.
And with such a singularly prominent place in the
history of this celebration, it's only befitting that the bulk of Rex's themes
are drafted from the lofty heights of history, literature, and mythology in the
tradition of early parading, kept alive through the conscious direction of the
School of Design ("The School of Design" being an official arm of the Rex
Organization, along with its philanthropic arm: the Pro Bono Publico
Foundation).
"I
spend a lot of time pouring over the vintage designs, and I try to incorporate
a lot of the elements," candidly asserted Royal Artists float designer and
School of Design Art Director Caroline Thomas. "Rich, complex color schemes,
fantastical narratives, dynamic and undulating compositions, to name a few."
Though Rex is intensely proud of its classical aesthetics, Thomas spends all-year thinking over how to bridge that design with the realities of the modern parading experience. "For one, floats used to be more like rolling tableaus, its riders in head-to-toe elaborate costumes, posing as a character surrounded by stage setting. Now the riders are occupied with throws, so the static art has to tell the story."
For its 2025 parade, the Rex Organization has chosen
the theme of "La Belle Époque," a period of European and especially French
history situated between the Franco-Prussian and First World Wars. Known for
everything from the flourishing of sciences to the birthplace of Art Nouveau
and the medium of film, this vibrant historical moment captures both the
artistic and historical milieu in which Rex—on the other side of the
ocean—perfectly harmonizes with.
"It's hard not to see La Belle Epoque's influence on early Carnival design. Because Rex is so steeped in tradition, there's certain elements that can't really change, but sometimes perimeters on art-making are fertile ground for creativity. For example, I think Royal Artists have been doing incredible work with Mardi Gras flowers, often pushing the limits of what even is a 'flower,' like this year's Marie Curie-themed float, which includes neon dimensional bursts of radium. I've often leaned heavily on that era of art as inspiration when designing floats, so it made sense to finally address it directly with an homage."
With Rex's
2025 theme on full-display in its Krewe Den, Rex Organization officials
highlighted both the artistic achievements of the School of Design, as well as
the social impact of the Pro Bono Publico Foundation, which contributes well over a million
dollars, each year, to educational philanthropy around the Greater New Orleans
region. Not only
does Rex know its stage as the centerpiece of Carnival fantasy—it knows how to
back that up with real-life philanthropic charity. One aspect of Rex helps the
other, and the organization stays nimble for many years to come.
"The themes
are approved several years in advance, and I already started researching the
2026 theme over last summer," Thomas remarked. "The Rex themes are often some
sort of deep dive into mythology or history, and to do them justice, I feel
like I have to do my homework. I find myself quite fortunate to be paid to sit
around and read big tomes on ancient gods, but there is still a lot of
pressure, considering the global stage that Rex offers, to be thorough."
The Rex Parade rolls on Mardi Gras Day, March 4, at
10:30 a.m. The King of Carnival will begin his procession at the intersection
of Napoleon Avenue and South Claiborne, traveling south to turn on St. Charles
Avenue for the main route, turning on Canal Street, and concluding at Canal and
South Peters Street. For more information, see the Rex Organization's
website.
