Mask Gallery

Nothing like the ones you buy elsewhere which are made outside of the US. Each mask here is hand made and leather.
Aside from masks, other works of art where simply beautiful.
I would make this my go to store should I return for the Mardis Gras.

This place had some of the nicest and most interesting masks I saw in the area, but it’s expensive. Most of the stuff they have is handmade, but they also had a discount table that looked more like what you would find in other shops. If you are looking for a unique mask for a special occasion, this is your place. If you want a cheap mask… go elsewhere.

I walked into this shop while moseying around the area. I was interested in buying a mask more to look at rather than wear. This place caught my eye and I stepped in to take a look.
The masks in the window were just a sampling of what is sold inside. In addition to the leather masks there are masks made out of flatware and some of wire. Look up and you will see the light fixtures that are also for sale here.
There is a nice variety of eye-​catching masks for sale here. Most cover above the cheek bones. Some have intricate arrangements of feathers while others rely on the painting alone to entertain the eyes. Although I saw a pile of blanks, I didn’t inquire if they were for sale.
Being completely green at this I didn’t expect the masks to cost as much as they do here. I can’t say if they are expensive for a handmade mask, but they were definitely more than I was prepared to pay at that moment. If you are looking for a one off thing or a mask you don’t care if your kids destroy, this is not your place. For a more serious, handcrafted item of beauty this might just be the store you’re looking for.

I would compare this place to places I’ve been in Venice where the whole mask thing more or less originated (at least in reference to the mask styles in NOLA).
This location is, well, expensive. That should not be a surprise. However, it is comparable to the good places in Venice for masks — they encourage you to try on masks and take pictures, and don’t hustle you or pressure you on buying one.
Also, the styles are very unique and artsy and most importantly — original. There are super generic mask shops all over NOLA and Italy — this is not one of them.

With Christmas around the corner I was hoping to buy a mask for my younger sister who is the whimsical sort, and I figured the Quarter would be a great place to find one. I started by peaking my head into a few shops to see if anything suited my budget of $ 50. Obviously, most of the cheaper masks displayed the «made in china» logo, or the sales clerk couldn’t speak about their history. In the Mask Gallery, however, the store immediately presents itself as an art gallery. After a few steps into the store, there is a small work area where you can see some masks being created. Since I’m very curious about the process behind mask construction, I enjoyed looking at the half created pieces.
In addition to the masks created on site, there are different sections of masks from artists around the world. I finally picked a pink and gold mask from the venetian section, which I thought would suit my sister’s tastes, and the price was close to my budget (total came to $ 60). Along with the great selection at the store, the staff offered a lot of help with describing some of the artists and regaling me with past Mardi Gras tales. After the holidays are over I’m definitely coming back here to pick one up for myself.