Louisiana Art: Contemporary

Modern and contemporary Louisiana artists continued the area's rich and diverse arts tradition. John McCrady, who came to be aligned with the Regionalist art movement during his early career, returned to his Louisiana roots and found the subject of African-American life in the South to be of particular interest. McCrady later established an art school in New Orleans' French Quarter and trained many of the next generation of artists. During the 1950s, New Orleans-born Fritz Bultman exhibited regularly with the New York School of noted Abstract Expressionists. A number of contemporary artists living and working in Louisiana during the 1970s achieved national prominence, including Robert Gordy, Ida Kohlmeyer and Jim Richard. Important figures who are still active include Lin Emery, known for metal kinetic sculptures, and John Scott, whose works often refer to his African-American heritage and to the strong musical culture of New Orleans. A popular favorite in the Contemporary Louisiana galleries is a painting from George Rodrigue's Blue Dog series.