Cooking is no Profession for a Lady
"COOKING IS NO PROFESSION FOR A LADY"
Shrimp and Grits“Cooking is no profession for a lady,” is the title of an installation serving as an homage to the late barrier-busting southern chef, Nathalie Dupree. Crowned the “Queen of Southern Cooking” by Southern Living magazine, she became a national culinary figure with the debut of her PBS series New Southern Cooking in 1985. The companion cookbook has been reprinted more than 25 times.
A beloved TV host on several national networks, Dupree’s funny quips and messy mistakes in the kitchen endeared her to legions of fans. Earlier in her career, Dupree directed a culinary school in Atlanta teaching more than 10,000 students. She helped found the Charleston Wine + Food Festival, and eventually made more television appearances than Julia Childs.
Dupree devoted herself to being a catalyst for the elevation of women in the culinary industry and earned three James Beard Foundation Media Awards for some of her 15 cookbooks. Dupree died in Raleigh, North Carolina, in January 2025 at the age of 85 surrounded by her family.
“I engaged with Nathalie on several occasions professionally while I was working at The Citadel, and personally, while we both lived in Charleston, South Carolina. She shared that her father said, ‘Cooking is no profession for a lady,’ making her ever more determined to succeed. Nathalie told stories about her friendship with author Pat Conroy, and the unfortunate experiences they shared with abusive fathers. Overall, Nathalie was a candid, funny storyteller. She laughingly mentioned that neighbors called her “a tart” following a divorce early in life, which led to my naming one of the art pieces ‘They say I’m a tart.’ Being able to create this work with utensils Nathalie actually used is a joy and a privilege.” Kim Keelor, installation artist
Shrimp and Grits: an homage to the late Chef Nathalie Dupree (full view above)
Wool; cooking utensils owned by Dupree; other mid-century cooking utensils; salvaged antique cadet coat hanging boards from The Citadel where Dupree spoke; wet and needle felt making, wiring. 55 x 105 inches
Close up
At Home in Her Kitchen
Wool, oil paint, collage, photograph, canvas, wet and needle felt making. 20 x 24
Biscuits and Jam
Wool, steel plates, cooking utensils owned by Dupree, aluminum strips and plates, wet and needle felt making, sewing. 24 x 28
Banishing the Slime
Wool, recycled sari silk, cotton, gauze, vintage rolling pin, wet and needle felt making. 95 x 17
Close up
Owned by the artist
Tart Parts
Oil paint on canvas, cooking utensils owned by Dupree. 6 x 24 inches
They Say I’m a Tart
Wool, recycled sari silk, cotton; tart molds, extruder and aspic cutters owned by Dupree'; steel peg board plates, wet felt making, needle felting. 66 x 16
Cream Puff Dough Her Way "Cream Puffs are a staple at any southern party," Nathalie Dupree
Wool, mid-century bread pan, wet felt making, 18 x 10
Nathalie's Charleston Home, Estate Sale Day
Photograph. 16 x 20
Estate Sale: Fans and Pickers, Nathalie's Kitchen
Photograph. 16 x 20
Letter of Love from Chef Virginia Willis, The Eater
Ink jet print on foam board