Black Tie Dogs
1999 by George Rodrigue
Approximate size, 56 1/8 x 93 1/2 x 16 inches
Acrylic paint on fiberglass
Signed by the artist
Contact gallery for pricing. Availability subject to change without notice.
The legacy of Black Tie Dogs extends beyond its initial display, entangled in a curious saga of artistic ownership and reproduction. A company affiliated with Cow Parade produced thousands of small-scale replicas of Rodrigue’s design without authorization. These illicit miniatures sparked a legal and ethical controversy (pictured). Rodrigue, ever vigilant in safeguarding his intellectual property and the integrity of his Blue Dog motif, intervened decisively. The unauthorized replicas were seized and relegated to a warehouse, where they languished for nearly a decade. In 2008, Rodrigue repurposed this dormant trove for a striking installation at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA). The display featured 240 of these diminutive Black Tie Dog cow sculptures arrayed before a full-sized cow, creating a meta-commentary on replication, authenticity, and the commodification of art. A photograph from the event captures Rodrigue sitting before this ensemble, his presence underscoring the tension between artistic control and the unruly afterlife of his creations.
Cowboy Cow
Cowboy Cow
2003 by George Rodrigue
Approximate size, 60 x 76 x 16 inches
Acrylic paint on fiberglass
Signed by the artist
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At the conclusion of the Chicago exhibition, the cows were auctioned off and the money was donated to charitable organizations. Rodrigue requested some additional cows to paint for himself, two of which he ultimately sold to his good friend Don Sanders, one with a special “Texas” theme.
Third-Size Cow
Third-Size Cow
ca. 2003 by George Rodrigue
Approximate size, 29 x 46 x 15 inches
Acrylic paint on fiberglass
Signed by the artist
Contact gallery for pricing. Availability subject to change without notice.
In 1999, the city of Chicago organized a public art display called Cows on Parade, following the lead of Zurich, Switzerland, the city that originated the cow parade idea. In Chicago, over 300 fiberglass cows painted by artists and other creatives were placed around the city and eventually sold to raise funds for charity. The department store Neiman Marcus commissioned George Rodrigue for their part in the parade. Rodrigue had collaborated with the department store and the past, creating images for the store’s famed catalog, The Book. Rodrigue painted three cows, which were placed in the gardens in front of Neiman Marcus’s Michigan Avenue location (pictured below). Black Tie Dogs is one of those three cows. Rodrigue painted a suit with blue dog heads along the jacket onto the cow. At the rear of the cow is a red dog head, revealing Rodrigue’s sense of humor and his ability to make art that engages viewers from every angle.