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George Rodrigue

1944-2013. Born and raised in southwest Louisiana, “Cajun Country,” George Rodrigue preserved on his canvas what he feared was his dying heritage — including its land, people, traditions and mythology. It was a Cajun legend, the loup-garou, that spawned his most famous series,

The Blue Dog.

Read about George Rodrigue

George Rodrigue in Studio

“I grew up feeling a strong relationship to the old things, to the old culture, and I got a stronger feeling when I went to Los Angeles to school. I really started to understand how different I was and how different my Louisiana was.”

George Rodrigue Biography

George Rodrigue Timelne

George Rodrigue Today

Available Work

Original Paintings by George Rodrigue

Original Paintings

Original Paintings by George Rodrigue

Original Paintings

Signed Silkscreens by George Rodrigue

Signed Prints

Estate Stamped Prints by George Rodrigue

Estate Stamped Prints

Jewelry by George Rodrigue

Jewelry

Rare Editions by George Rodrigue

Rare Selections

Galleries

Exhibitions

George Rodrigue Exhibitions

News & Events

Newly Released Silkscreen: The Other Side of Life

NEW SILKSCREEN RELEASE The Other Side of Life is a silkscreen designed by George Rodrigue in 2002 and produced in 2020. This Estate Edition of 150 measures 20 x 16 inches and is available for purchase from Rodrigue Studios or online. The sun has always been a key element of […]

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I’ve always approached painting knowing that my job is not to make an accurate representation of a subject–

IT’S GOT TO TRANSCEND THAT.

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"I’ve always approached painting knowing ...

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"I’ve always approached painting knowing that my

"I’ve always approached painting knowing that my job is not to make an accurate representation of a subject– IT’S GOT TO TRANSCEND THAT."

George Rodrigue, pictured circa 1995 #tbt

When George Rodrigue was tasked with depicting the...

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Oct 21

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When George Rodrigue was tasked with depicting the

When George Rodrigue was tasked with depicting the legend of the loup-garou, the ghost dog that lurked in cemeteries and sugar cane fields, he had to draw from his imagination.

He turned to a photograph of Tiffany, a beloved family pet, who had died four years earlier. Rodrigue found her shape and stance worked well for this purpose. Occasionally Rodrigue painted Tiffany as she was — a black and white terrier-mix that served as his faithful studio companion during those late nights while the artist painted.

Black & Blue & White
1992
Oil on canvas
11 x 14 inches
Available at Rodrigue Studios

‘Round the Mulberry Bush
2002
Acrylic ...

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Oct 20

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‘Round the Mulberry Bush 2002 Acrylic on canvas

‘Round the Mulberry Bush
2002
Acrylic on canvas
36 inch diameter
Available and on display at Rodrigue Studios New Orleans

As a colorist, George Rodrigue emphasized the differences in hues between his paintings.

“You can’t take a Blue Dog from one painting and switch it with one from another,” he explained. “The color changes according to whatever other color is alongside it.”

During the early 2000s, just prior to his loose and spontaneous explosion of Hurricanes, Rodrigue focused on tight, controlled studies of color and design, often on custom-stretched round canvases, such as the paintings Roulette, Wheel of Fortune, and ‘Round the Mulberry Bush. In some cases, Rodrigue mounted motors to these round canvases, allowing the paintings to turn slowly by remote control.

“My paintings are like puzzles,” he often said. “Once the puzzle is complete, then the painting is finished.”

Rodrigue returned to the swirl often throughout ...

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Rodrigue returned to the swirl often throughout hi

Rodrigue returned to the swirl often throughout his career. It first appeared in his landscapes and Cajun series paintings as a light in the distance, symbolizing hope and a brighter tomorrow. Later it evolved into Hurricanes and the Cosmos, as the birth of creativity, and as a suspension of reality ---a symbol of the mysterious, mystical, and spiritual. In 2012, after his cancer entered remission, Rodrigue commented,
“People asked me all summer, ‘What will you paint once you’re back at your easel?’. I said I didn’t know, but that it probably would relate to my illness. Looking at these first canvases, that’s exactly what happened. I’m painting hope, love, happiness, sunshine, everything that I faced losing.”

Good Morning Sunshine
1992 by George Rodrigue
Oil and acrylic on linen
14x11 inches
Available at Rodrigue Studios.

George Rodrigue's iconic and tender ...

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George Rodrigue's iconic and tender "Kiss Me, I'm

George Rodrigue's iconic and tender "Kiss Me, I'm Cajun" (1979) depicts his oldest son, Andre, as a young boy and is available as a beautiful silkscreen print. Learn more about this and other #Cajun Series #Rodrigue prints, now for sale online by visiting the #linkinbio👆

Throughout his life, George Rodrigue returned ...

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Throughout his life, George Rodrigue returned repe

Throughout his life, George Rodrigue returned repeatedly to his favorite subjects —particularly those connected to his personal interests and history.

This original silkscreen features Rodrigue’s actual Coca-Cola machine, a staple in his former studio behind Landry’s Restaurant in Henderson, Louisiana, where he painted during the late 1980s and early 1990s. Later Rodrigue displayed the machine as a decorative memento in his warehouse, alongside the table where he often proofed and signed his prints. Rodrigue acquired the Coca-Cola machine around 1980 from his friend Rodney Fontenot, known as ‘The Ragin’ Cajun,’ whose original portrait by George Rodrigue is currently on view at Rodrigue Studio Lafayette. Painted in 1979, the portrait includes a 1950s Coca-Cola box that Rodrigue used for years to store his paints.

In January 2017, the Bayou Teche Museum in Rodrigue’s hometown of New Iberia, Louisiana, unveiled the first phase of a permanent installation of his studio, which was dismantled and shipped from Carmel, California earlier this year. The museum’s studio will include George Rodrigue’s last painting, as it sat unfinished on his easel, as well as the original flooring, furniture, paints, brushes, photographs, student works, and his collection of 1950s memorabilia —-including the original Coca-Cola machine that inspired this artwork. (Rodrigue was particularly proud of the 7-cents sticker, added when the price of a coke increased by a penny.)

I’m the Real Thing (yellow)
2010
Original Silkscreen by George Rodrigue
Numbered Edition of 290
#1-49 Signed by the Artist (Sold Out)
#50-290 Official Rodrigue Estate Stamp
Size: 14×14 inches
Available at #linkinbio👆

Typical of figures in George Rodrigue’s Cajun ...

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Oct 16

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Typical of figures in George Rodrigue’s Cajun st

Typical of figures in George Rodrigue’s Cajun style, the bride is timeless, a ghost not shadowed beneath the tree as one would expect, but rather brightly lit and all in white.

CAJUN BRIDE OF OAK ALLEY
Designed by George Rodrigue
1974/2014
28×38 inches
Stamped Open Edition
Available at Rodrigue Studios

From 1976 — 1980 George Rodrigue Paints as a ...

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Oct 15

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From 1976 — 1980 George Rodrigue Paints as a "Ca

From 1976 — 1980 George Rodrigue Paints as a "Cajun Artist"

During this time Rodrigue fully develops his unique style by painting Cajun folklore, and scenes of Louisiana culture, in his Lafayette, Louisiana studio. The Rodrigue style is defined by its hard-edged figures glowing white with their culture in order to appear cut out and pasted on the landscape.

Learn more about Rodrigue's life and artwork in our online illustrated timeline at #linkinbio

Revel on Royal Street in New Orleans

...

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Revel on Royal Street in New Orleans Welcome back

Revel on Royal Street in New Orleans

Welcome back to Royal Street! Please join us for an evening of shopping, music and revelry as we celebrate the many treasures this historic New Orleans thoroughfare has to offer!

Friday, October 16th
5:00 p.m. til 8:00 p.m.

More than 50 galleries, shops, restaurants and other venues will open their doors to revelers on this special evening. Enjoy street performances and music.

New Orleans is re-opening and it's time to celebrate! Learn more: https://landing.rauantiques.com/revel-on-royal/

The Red Dog first appeared in 1990, about the time...

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The Red Dog first appeared in 1990, about the time

The Red Dog first appeared in 1990, about the time George Rodrigue began to re-think and re-imagine the Cajun legend of the loup-garou. At first the Red Dog embodied the darker, mythical side of the loup-garou, and the artist experimented with the concept of good vs. evil. But over time, the red shifted in meaning — taking a somewhat lighter, playful tone.

Rodrigue often played with the titles when he included the Red Dog in compositions, such as the silkscreens The Devil in Me (1990), and Split Personality (1991); and in his paintings the inclusion of the Red Dog often referred to love, such as in She Stole My Burning Heart (2007). With Icy Hot, Rodrigue appears to play with the contrast of hot and cold, with his intense use of red and blue.

Over his forty-four year career as an artist, Rodrigue revealed a passion for color, and when he made the transition from oil paint to acrylic in the late 1990s, his love for primary colors became more obvious, and painted the Blue Dog in all colors.

As he says in the children’s book, Why is Blue Dog Blue? (Published 2003, Stewart, Tabori & Chang, New York), Rodrigue stated:

“Artists don’t have to paint things the way they really are. I use my imagination to paint my own world, I can paint a dog any color I can imagine.”

ICY HOT
2013
Acrylic on canvas
40 x 30 inches
Newly available at Rodrigue Studios.

Repost from @thetravelingcrawfish
•
...

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Repost from @thetravelingcrawfish • George Rodri

Repost from @thetravelingcrawfish
•
George Rodrigue's hometown of New Iberia, Louisiana is now home to George Rodrigue Park.

The sun has always been a key element of ...

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The sun has always been a key element of Rodrigue’s art. It first appeared in the early landscapes and Cajun series paintings as a light in the distance, symbolizing hope for a brighter tomorrow. Soon after, the sun became more abstracted, and took the form of swirls of yellow and gold.

Then, in 2002, when Rodrigue began his Hurricane series, the swirl became an even stronger signature theme in his work, representing the energy and power of these massive storms. The swirl that had once enlivened his landscapes now had grown to encompass the entire canvas as its sole subject. Rodrigue was fascinated by the shape, and he continued to use the swirl as a prominent motif for the rest of his life.

As with his Cajun works, George Rodrigue’s titles described a scene in the simplest of terms. The paintings themselves hold narratives, and their titles often state the obvious. However, the Blue Dog is always engulfed in mystery, and the titles often became an important part of the intrigue, not only shedding light on the artist’s intent, but forcing us to look at the art, and the world in a different way.

The Other Side of Life
2002 / 2020
Silkscreen, Estate Stamped edition of 150
20 x 16 inches
Newly released and available at Link in bio

George Rodrigue in Carmel, California, in 1991 ...

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George Rodrigue in Carmel, California, in 1991 aft

George Rodrigue in Carmel, California, in 1991 after painting “Lacoste Lineup” 36x82 inches (top) and additional works on canvas #fbf

In 2003, George Rodrigue painted LSU’s Mike the ...

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In 2003, George Rodrigue painted LSU’s Mike the

In 2003, George Rodrigue painted LSU’s Mike the Tiger reclining in one of the artist’s signature Louisiana landscapes. Prints of the image originally raised enough funds to complete construction of the tiger’s world-class new habitat.

Taking Care of Business is perhaps the most iconic...

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Taking Care of Business is perhaps the most iconic

Taking Care of Business is perhaps the most iconic image among the group of paintings that were part of the Xerox advertising campaign of 2000, which promoted the company’s new inkjet printers in the United States and Europe. All in all, more than twenty Rodrigue paintings were part of this very successful world-wide campaign that combined the Rodrigue’s artwork with the advertising savvy of the New York agency, Young & Rubicon. Reluctant at first, Rodrigue was ultimately excited about the project because it gave him the opportunity to work with these advertising giants.

However, to move forward, Rodrigue had one hard and fast rule for the project: the Blue Dog existed only within a complete painting of his design. He would not allow the Blue Dog to be removed and used in ways he never intended. They agreed to his terms, and provided taglines to the artist, such as Family Business, A Smarter Breed, Service Business and Taking Care of Business, and he in turn completed paintings around them.

TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS
2000
Acrylic on canvas
48 x 36 inches
Newly available and on display at Rodrigue Studios.

Located in one of the most historic buildings in ...

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Located in one of the most historic buildings in t

Located in one of the most historic buildings in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Rodrigue Studios serves as a cultural hub where visitors can learn about George Rodrigue, his important role in documenting Cajun culture and the origins of his Blue Dog series.

Our modified gallery hours are Saturday & Sunday 12:00 - 4:00 or by appointment.

A young Andre Rodrigue visits with Tiffany, ...

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Oct 1

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A young Andre Rodrigue visits with Tiffany, George

A young Andre Rodrigue visits with Tiffany, George’s original inspiration for his version of the Cajun legend of the Loup Garou that evolved into the Blue Dog series, at the family’s Lafayette, Louisiana home circa 1978 in this newly re-discovered archive photo. #tbt

Where Are You Sequoia
1999
Silkscreen on ...

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Where Are You Sequoia 1999 Silkscreen on paper 21

Where Are You Sequoia
1999
Silkscreen on paper
21 x 26 in.
Edition of 150

For more than two decades, Rodrigue combined the ...

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For more than two decades, Rodrigue combined the l

For more than two decades, Rodrigue combined the landscape, people, and traditions of southwest Louisiana to create scenes both imaginary and honest. Through contrasting these concepts, as well as traditional elements of artistic style, he graphically interpreted the Cajun culture in a highly personal way.

Rodrigue’s French-Cajun mother often recounted the legend of the loup-garou, a crazy wolf that frightened children into minding their parents. He first painted it in 1984, mimicking the shape of his deceased dog. Beneath a dark night sky, Rodrigue imagined the loup-garouas grey-blue in color.

Between 1984 and 1991, Rodrigue revisited the loup-garou, an image he invented, a dozen or more times, always within dark landscapes. The paintings did not stand out to him or to others. They existed exclusively as part of his Cajun Series.

At an exhibition of his work in Los Angeles in 1989, Rodrigue overheard people talking about “the blue dog,” a phrase he heard for the first time. The idea haunted him. Blue Dog … What does that mean? And in 1991, as he often explained while tilting his hand near his head, as though cranking a wheel, “something clicked.”

In a brave and bold step, an artist well established and famous within his genre broke free. He shocked himself, his collectors, and the world with this painting. Loup-garou was his first painting in twenty-five years that did not include the Louisiana landscape. This commanding artwork changed everything, and it is the true beginning of the Blue Dog Series.

“The Blue Dog, I realized, had to stand alone. With this image, I could take my art in a completely new direction. I could comment on life today. I could ask universal questions: ‘Where did I come from? Where am I going? What does it all mean?’” –G.R.

Loup-Garou
1991
Oil on canvas
72 x 48 in.
Private collection
Pictured, Rodrigue Studio’s 2nd Floor Gallery Space, French Quarter, New Orleans

Printed in Paris, France, this stunning lithograph...

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Sep 28

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Printed in Paris, France, this stunning lithograph

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