Culture is undeniably a New Orleanian specialty, ranging from music, food, history, and, of course, art. The Big Easy is home to several iconic art pieces cultivated all around the globe. But as the saying goes, home is where the heart is. Our city is home to several artists that instill onto others the same passion they ignite into their work. Even our glorious street art has been admired worldwide.
Here are just a few of many artists who call NOLA home and grace the city with their talent.
NOLA's 10 Most Notable Artists
1. Becky Fos
Becky Fos started out as a hairdresser and has since turned herself into an artist. She is most known for her vibrant and bright colored paintings.
Ms. Fos uses the New Orleans landscape as her canvas. Her work regularly features local architecture, plants and wildlife, as well as New Orleans' people such as musicians and historical figures.
2. Frenchy
It can be said that Frenchy pulls punches in his art. Born into a family of a boxer and a saint, Frenchy originates from New England, although New Orleans has been home to him since 1997. Originally, he started his career when The Boston Horns approached him for a project.
Since then, he has worked with the New Orleans Saints, New Orleans Hornets, Monday Night Football, Maple Leaf Club, Jazz Fest, Mardi Gras Indians. His work can be found in many galleries, bars, and restaurants throughout the city.
3. Simon of New Orleans
Originally a chef, artist Simon Hardeveld's art can be seen throughout New Orleans. His art can easily be confused as Dr. Bob's, as the two artists paint extremely similarly. This has been the focus of an ongoing 25+ year feud.
Simon's art is typically word-based in shades of the primary colors and he free-hand paints upon pieces of wood. However, some of his art does feature images of people, places, and creatures.
4. Dapper Bruce Lafitte
Dapper Bruce Lafitte's art focuses on New Orleans' picturesque landscapes. The landscapes aren't the only focus. Lafitte also includes schools, parks, businesses, institutions, while also including shoutouts and critiques of people and the places of New Orleans, too.
Lafitte is a native New Orleanian and prefers the title of "self-taught anthropologist" than "self-taught artist." He lives in the 9th Ward.
5. James Michalopoulos
Michalopoulos' father was an architect, and his uncle was a famous painter. So it's
no shock that he became a painter, despite his attraction to science and economics.
Michalopoulos is a self-taught artist and a plein air artist (an artist who
paints outdoors so they do not have the confines of the indoors to restrict
their art). He lives in both New Orleans and Burgundy, France.
He was the
House of Blues' arts director for six years and has been a Jazz Fest poster
artist six times, more times than any other poster artist. Additionally, he has
been running Celebration Distillation (makers of Old New Orleans Rum, and
Gingeroo) since 1995.
6. Brandan Odums
His graffiti art began in 2017 and inspired a documentary about him called Strong Light by Patrick Melon. Odums opened up Studio Be, his solo exhibition that houses his work and is open to the public.
7. Ashley Longshore
Ashley Longshore is a self-taught artist who resides in both New Orleans and New York. One of the most well-known gallery artists in the city, Longshore's art is recognized for its pop art-style, featuring iconic celebrities and high-end fashion from a feminist point-of-view.
Her art
can be found throughout the America and in Europe. She has partnered with many
fashion industry legends and even inspired Christian Siriano's runway
collection in 2019.
8. Nonney Oddlokken
Nonney Oddlokken is most known for her "Tiny Fables" art pieces. She is a mixed media artist and recently was the poster artist for the Louisiana Book Festival.
Oddlokken's art was inspired by her own aunt's creativity when Nonney was a child. She uses her family memories, as well as local folklore and culture, to create her art made of natural objects with stitched thread.
9. Cole Pratt
Cole Pratt is an art gallery that features past artworks by the late artist of the same name. The gallery is currently owned by longtime director Erika Olinger.
The gallery includes a separate space in the gallery for other artists it chooses to feature on a regular basis. The artists are chosen once a month, and only one artist is featured at a time.
10. George Rodrigue
George Rodrigue is most known for his "Blue Dog" series, and this series sends money to rescue organizations. His gallery is located
on Royal Street, just behind the St. Louis Cathedral and next to St. Anthony's
Garden.
George Rodrigue's art made international news when a local rock band found several paintings that were stolen from the gallery and returned them. Rodrigue's art was inspired from the Cajun folklore of the loup-garou, or rougarou, legends.
Local Legends Ornament the City
Just like the bands and the beads animate the city, so do these artists' unique works. Chances are you've come across one of their art pieces without even knowing. Next time you check out a museum, restaurant, bar, or maybe even take a stroll to Jackson Square to peruse the art, keep an eye out as you might just bump into one of our beloved local artists' work!
