George Rodrigue

Absolut Statehood: Louisiana, Lithograph by George Rodrigue

1992

From New Iberia, Louisiana, George Rodrigue is known for his Blue Dog series, inspired by his long-deceased childhood pet, Tiffany, whom he posed with other animals and people for his popular paintings and prints. 

Rodrigue had early art talent, and while ill for nearly a year, he used watercolors and crayons to pass the time, and this activity set his future. He studied at the University of Southwestern Louisiana and in Los Angeles at the Art Center College of Design. For a while, Rodrigue painted Abstract Expressionist works but then went back to creating paintings that reflected his own Cajun culture, including folk tales and bayou and swamp landscapes. 

Gradually a black and white spaniel, based on his childhood companion, Tiffany, increasingly appeared in Rodgrigue's paintings and became the Blue Dog, now a compelling and humorous Pop figure in his original works and silkscreen reproductions. In 2000, representatives of the Xerox corporation commissioned Rodrigue with a multi-million dollar contract to do a series of Blue Dog paintings to promote their printers. 

Rodrigue was also the artist for the Absolut Vodka ads and created the artwork for three New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival posters. The 1995 poster, with the portrait of Louis Armstrong, as well as the one created in 1996 that featured Pete Fountain, have become collector's items. 

Rodrigue and his wife, Wendy, created the House of Blues Foundation Room to support arts and cultural programs for youth. Money is raised through the sale of his paintings. A George Rodrigue museum is in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Find original George Rodrigue posters and Blue Dog paintings on 1stDibs.

(Biography provided by Louisiana Art, LLC)