The Life and Art of George Rodrigue
George Rodrigue was an American artist born in New Iberia, Louisiana. His early work focused on Louisiana landscapes, outdoor family gatherings, and genre scenes from southwest Louisiana during the 19th and early 20th centuries. These paintings often featured moss-clad oak trees common to the French Louisiana area known as Acadiana. He studied art at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California.
In the mid-1990s, Rodrigue achieved worldwide fame through his Blue Dog series. This series features a blue-hued dog with a white nose and yellow eyes, inspired by the shape and stance of his deceased dog, Tiffany, and the loup-garou legend. His work has been featured in national ad campaigns for Absolut Vodka and Xerox Corporation.
Legacy and Contributions
Beyond his famous series, Rodrigue's notable works include:
- The Aioli Dinner
- The Class of Marie Courrege
- The Saga of the Acadians, a series of fifteen paintings
- Portraits for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival featuring Louis Armstrong, Pete Fountain, and Al Hirt
Following Hurricane Katrina, he created works such as We Will Rise Again to benefit the Red Cross. He also established the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts to advocate for visual arts in children's development. Rodrigue died in 2013.
