Born in New Orleans in 1964, Louise LeBourgeois grew up in Belle Chasse, Louisiana; Oxford, England; and Clemson, South Carolina before moving to Chicago at age 14.
Influenced by the diverse places she experienced as a child, she remains intrigued by the phenomenon of existing in one place while clinging to the memory of another. She uses landscape imagery as a way to explore history, both personal and collective.
Louise earned her M.F.A. from Northwestern University in 1994. Her paintings have been exhibited throughout the United States and in Italy. Awards include grants from the Illinois Arts Council and Artadia: The Fund for Art and Dialogue, and inclusion in Who’s Who of American Women.
After the devastation of Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Louise co-founded the 'NOLA in Chicago Network', a group advocating for the needs of New Orleans and New Orleanians.
Louise and her husband, the painter Steven Carrelli, have lived and worked in Florence, Italy several times, most recently for 18 months in 2005-6. Louise lives in Chicago and teaches in the Art and Design Department at Columbia College Chicago.