Shirley Rabé Masinter Bradley's Obituary
Beloved New Orleans artist Shirley Rabé Masinter Bradley passed away on November 15, 2023. Shirley made pioneering contributions to the New Orleans art scene with a complex body of oils and watercolors that explored Louisiana landscapes and the streets and cemeteries of New Orleans. In describing her work, Shirley said, “My art is a reflection of me, my life and my environment. I have always painted and drawn subjects and scenes that were and are a part of me. I have tried in my work to create a vision and a style that tells of my city: its beauty, its mystery, its fascination with the celebration of life and death."
Shirley was the daughter of the late James William Rabé and Amelia Sedgewick Rabé and sister of the late Audrey Rabé Fortier. She was born in New Orleans on December 11, 1932, and was descended from German and Irish immigrants. Shirley’s family settled in the old nineteenth century neighborhood across from St. Roch Park and near St. Roch cemetery. Throughout her life as an artist, Shirley’s work reflected her surroundings, from capturing scenes of St. Roch, the Carrollton neighborhood where she raised her children and the Northshore, where she happily spent her later years surrounded by friends and her beloved cats. Shirley was dedicated to her art, working diligently each day to create the beauty that existed within her for the world until her unexpected death.
Shirley was a graduate of John McDonough High School in New Orleans. She began studying art in 1950 at the Rabouin School of Commercial Art & Advertising and later attended the acclaimed John McCrady School of Art in the French Quarter. In 1973, Shirley received a Bachelor of Arts from Newcomb College, Tulane University and later, in 1989, a Master of Arts in Art History from Tulane.
While her children were growing up, Shirley worked as a commercial artist for the D.H. Holmes department store and managed the art department before pivoting to fine art. She also worked at the New Orleans Museum of Art and taught Art History at Tulane and the University of New Orleans. Shirley selflessly spent a lifetime educating others about art and art history, devoting her life to helping new artists hone their skills and encouraging amateurs who shared her passion.
Shirley participated in numerous juried art shows and was featured in many publications. She was represented by LeMieux Galleries, which hosted many major solo exhibitions of her work, the most recent being a “Shirley at 90” exhibit in December 2022. Shirley’s work is held in the permanent collections of the Ogden Museum of Southern Art in New Orleans; the New Orleans Museum of Art; the Louisiana State Museum; the Mississippi Museum of Art in Jackson; the Huntsville Museum of Art in Alabama; the Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia and the Historical Museum of Wines and Spirits in Stockholm Sweden, among others. Shirley received many additional accolades, including winning the Absolut Vodka juried show, which resulted in her painting being used as a part of the company’s advertising campaign. Shirley also received the St. Tammany Parish President’s Art Award.
Shirley is preceded in death by her husband Dr. David Bradley and is survived by her four children: Eve Barrie Masinter of New Orleans (Monica); Paul James Masinter of New Orleans (Renee); Neal Sedgewick Masinter of Southport, FL (Missy); and Cara Marie Vives of San Antonio. She is also survived by three grandchildren: Eleanor Grace Masinter, Amanda Marie Walton (Arianna) and Emma Rabé Johnson.
Shirley not only was a powerful force in the art world but also loved her family deeply. Her deviled eggs and rice dressing were staples at holiday dinners, and her spaghetti and meatballs were always a hit with the neighborhood children and then, later, her grandchildren. She welcomed all into her home, without judgment or prejudice.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, November 25, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 120 S New Hampshire Street, Covington, Louisiana, with visitation beginning at 10:00 a.m. A celebration of Shirley’s life will be held in New Orleans at a later date. In lieu of flowers, a fund in Shirley’s memory has been established at the Ogden Museum to support art education, history and training programs. Donations may be made by email to [email protected] or by calling 504.539.9616.
E. J. Fielding Funeral Home has been entrusted with the arrangements. Please sign the online guestbook at www.ejfieldingfh.com.
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