Many artists from around the world visit New Orleans to be inspired by it's vibrant culture, architectures, celebrations, and more. A setting for many famous movies, novels, and pieces of art, stepping foot into New Orleans ensures that inspiration will flow your way.
Home to many famous painters, designers, creators, and artists broadly, the Big Easy still continues to boast an impressive lineup of talented artists. These 10 are just some of the many talented creatives from around the city!
NOLA's 10 Most Notable Artists
1. Becky Fos
beckyfos.com
A hairdresser-turned-artist, Becky Fos' journey to become a professional artist was unique, to say the least. On a mission to brighten up her own home with homemade artwork, Fos accidentally sold her first piece after a post on social media, which resulted in much attention and praise for her artistic skills. After sharing a tent with a friend during Gretna Fest, Fos was invited to share their gallery and, within a few days, she was selling her pieces to people around the world.
Full of color and life, Fos is inspired by the world and culture that surrounds her here in New Orleans. Featuring pelicans, alligators, flamingos, and more, Fos aims to bring joy and happiness into people's lives through her artwork. Having commissioned pieces for the LSU Women's Basketball Team, the 90th Anniversary Allstate Sugar Bowl, and much more. Becky Fos has established herself as a uniquely special New Orleans artist.
2. James Michalopoulos
michalopoulos.com
Despite James Michalopoulos' upbringing involving artistic family and friends, Michaloupoulos didn't want to be an artist. Instead, he dove head first into the corporate world, working alongside many large companies and owning a few small businesses as well. After leaving the corporate world, Michaloupoulos found his way to New Orleans, where, along the way, he honed in on his self-taught artistic skills.
Today, Michalopoulos has set himself apart as an incredibly influential artist in the region. Inspired by "beauty and decay," New Orleans architecture quickly became his inspiration for a majority of his work. Michalopoulos plays with texture, perspective, and color, creating a diverse portfolio of art pieces. His eccentric art style and daring techniques make him a beloved, local, artist.
3. Terrance Osborne
terranceosborne.com
A New Orleans native, Terrance Osborne attended the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts before getting his degree in fine arts from Xavier University. Inspired by the beauty, tragedy, and culture of the city, Osborne's pieces reflect all aspects of the city's history and identity—from Hurricane Katrina to marching bands. Today, he runs and operates his own art gallery and continues to create beautiful pieces.
Osborne's work is incredibly New Orleanian and filled with life, color, and joy. He features pieces about Mardi Gras, the city's architecture, iconic landmarks, and more. Most notably, he's created and designed many official Jazz and Heritage Festival posters throughout the years. A truly iconic artist, Terrance Osborne is a beloved creative within the NOLA community.
4. Dapper Bruce Lafitte
gryder.co
Dapper Bruce Lafitte's art focuses on New Orleans' picturesque landscapes. However, 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 also lives in the 9th Ward, there by giving a local connection in towards his work.
5. Frenchy
frenchylive.com
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, and Mardi Gras Indians. His work can be found in many galleries, bars, and restaurants throughout the city.
6. Brandan Odums
bmike.co
Brandan Odums is a NOCCA graduate. He studied visual art, and that eventually grew to his work creating music videos for artists like Juvenile and Mos Def. Now, he mostly works with spray paint.
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. Simon of New Orleans
simonofneworleansapparel.com
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.
8. Cole Pratt
coleprattgallery.com
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.
9. George Rodrigue
georgerodrigue.com
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 rougarou, or loup-garou, legends.
10. Dr. Bob
facebook.com
An eccentric and quirky artist, Dr. Bob is somewhat of a mysterious artist, but is well known and beloved for his iconic "Be Nice or Leave" signs that have taken over the city. Using bottle caps, old junkyard finds, and other mysterious objects, Dr. Bob employs a funky style and lots of color.
Dr. Bob's Folk Art Gallery and Store is located on Chartres street and features many cool art pieces. Undoubtedly New Orleans, Dr. Bob's art is just a part of New Orleans—inside coffee shops, bookstores, and homes, almost everybody around the city has a Dr. Bob sign.
Local Legends Ornament the City
Each of these artists' unique work captures the city and it's culture in a new way. Check out their galleries, and even purchase one for yourself to bring the colors of New Orleans int your own home!
