Henry Lipkis is a multidisciplinary artist with a focus on public murals, parade, immersive production design, and puppet making. Born in Venice, California, Lipkis moved to New Orleans in 2014, and found himself captured by the spirit of Mardi Gras, pulled in by its vibrant and varied pageantry and the city wide suspension of disbelief. With a passion for large scale spectacle and inspired by the long history of carnival traditions, Lipkis moved from painting murals into instigating parades and creating the massive puppets and floats that bring them to life. Branching from that realm, he has coordinated massive events working with artists and collaborators to build worlds that engulf their participants with magic and delight. 

Lipkis has since become involved hosting workshops focused on how to build giant puppets and coordinating theatrical elements with many established and fledgeling parades around the country, including the May Day Parade in Minneapolis, and Where the Weird Things Are in Atlanta.