Michael “Rex” Dingler is a New Orleans artist and native who founded NoLA Rising, a public art campaign that encourages street art to positively interact with the community. Following Katrina, Rex began placing custom artwork around New Orleans in hopes of encouraging people positively in their return home. Since placing over three thousand custom signs across New Orleans, Rex has exhibited in New Orleans, New York and Tel Aviv and had artwork on public display in over 30 countries. Rex is subject of debate on numerous websites in the States and abroad, most notably in the Village Voice and CultureBot, where he was deemed the founder of the largest grassroots movement in the contemporary art scene in the American South.

Considered a street artist, Rex’s formal art education is limited to interaction with Al Federico, a French Quarter artist, who painted historical street scenes for a living. Encouraged by Mr. Federico at a developing age to paint with his mind’s eye rather than through traditional styles, Rex took the perspective that art is to be explored through personal growth. Rex also briefly worked with the late Peter Lobello in what would become his last painting for the Sultan of Dubai.

His more contemporary peers and influences include street artists from around the world that continue to provide support and growth in venues that promote the integrating of artwork into public life. Creating pieces that are considered to be thoughtful, mindfully placed where the individual can interact with the work on public streets, has been the main intention of the latest body of street work by Rex. Believing that art can heal the wounded soul, he draws energy from the movement of street artists who work to selflessly create beautiful and thought-provoking art.

Recently, Rex has been working on NoLA Rising where plans are underway for a city-wide murals project in New Orleans, art education programs for schools and art therapy programs with those who have suffered in disaster-affected areas. The major initiative, already given the support by the Orleans Levee Board and approval from the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, is to have the region’s largest sanctioned mural painted on the Lower 9th Ward Levee Wall as a tribute to those who endured the hardships of Hurricane Katrina.