Dr. Liz Johnston-Dupre is a multi-disciplinary artist and creative force with a passion for storytelling.
A proud Creole and native New Orleanian, Dr. Liz channels the city’s rich cultural tapestry into their art, scholarship, journalism, marketing, event planning, and performances. As the Founder and Chief Creative Director of Folk Riot, a southern arts and culture company, Liz curates spaces that celebrate creativity and culture in the Gulf South, via theatrical plays, live music, variety shows, community meet-ups, artistic installations, zine making and distribution, and digital magazines, and more.
An accomplished academic, Dr. Liz earned their Ph.D. in Comparative Literature, focusing on Afro-Diasporic Artistic Expressions, Folklore and Folkways, and Popular Culture, with a French Minor, from Louisiana State University in 2023. Their Death, Dreaming, and Diaspora: Achieving Orientation Through Afro-Spirituality explores the transformative power of Afro-diasporic practices in literature, poetry, and film through the lens of philosophy, ethnography, and critical analysis. This theme of reclaiming identity through spiritual and cultural micropractices also builds on Liz’s American Folklore Society-awarded thesis, My Mother Read My Dreams: Dream Interpretation in the African Diaspora, which marries the ethnographic study of folk practices of Black women in Louisiana with literary and psychological studies.
Dr. Liz’s writing has been featured in numerous publications, and their poetry and essays often explore themes of memory, identity, and resilience. Their books, Magnolias and Friends, Exes, and People I Can’t Call, published in 2024, blend sharp wit and poignant reflection, resonating with audiences across generations, which was explored more deeply in the first live theatrical production of their work, Love, Loss, Liberation (2025) which was performed at The Mudlark Theatre. Dr. Liz also loves exploring Black Southern Gothic aesthetics, which are highly present in their forthcoming play, The Lament, which will be performed at the André Cailloux Center for Performing Arts and Cultural Justice in May/June 2026.
Beyond the page, Liz is a magnetic performer, producer, and musician bringing stories to life on stage with captivating energy. Whether hosting open mic nights or starring in theatrical productions, Dr. Liz’s performances are a celebration of storytelling in its rawest, most powerful form.
Throughout their career, Liz has championed creative expression as a force for connection and transformation. From founding and editing journals like Comparative Woman to mentoring aspiring writers to creating compelling Marketing and Communications Campaigns, Dr. Liz is deeply committed to fostering community and celebrating diverse voices. Their research, artistic endeavors, and communications work serve as a testament to the enduring power of creativity to heal, resist, connect, and inspire.
When they’re not writing or performing, Liz can be found exploring the intersection of folkways, popular culture, and storytelling or enjoying the vibrant art and music scenes of New Orleans… and absolutely crushing it at karaoke night.
Liz Johnston-Dupre 