Well-known New Orleans street artist brings color back to his hometown on the West Bank

As the unforgiving summer sun beat down and cars zipped by, artist Joshua Wingerter stood at a busy Westwego intersection, spray-painting stencils of monarch butterflies and pink wildflowers onto a bright yellow utility box. Every few minutes, drivers passing by honked their support. Wingerter would stop to wave back and wipe the sweat off his brow as the smell of paint fumes filled the air next to the Westbank Expressway.  It’s been a labor of love for the Westwego native as he paints once-dull gray roadside utility boxes with brightly colored native wildlife to beautify the city with public art, something that’s been lacking for most of its history.  The graffiti-style artist has partnered with the city and local businesses to paint seven utility boxes, starting from the end of the elevated Westbank Expressway. While his art sells for thousands across the Mississippi River, the self-described “pop art scientist” is working with the city to foster an artistic community on the West Bank. Wingerter’s planning more murals and events for Westwego, and he’s bought properties in the city’s new cultural arts district to host more artists in the future. Artist Josh Wingerter paints a utility box in Westwego, La., Tuesday,...