A Bayou State of Mind Artist James Michalopoulos speaks at 5:30 PM at LSUMOA (fifth floor),
followed immediately by a reception in the Gallery at Manship, location of his exhibition.
A Bayou State of Mind
On view September 4, 2025–January 4, 2026
It showcases the rich tapestry of Louisiana’s culture, traditions, history, land, and spirit, as a diverse mix of artists respond to and envision the state’s unique character. From the deep-rooted perspectives of natives such as Malaika Favorite, John T. Scott, and Elmore Morgan Jr., to the evocative impressions of those captivated during brief encounters, like Nathalie Miebach and Richard Misrach, the objects relate intimate visual responses to a complex environment.
A highlight of the exhibition is the Bayou Collection, a series of forty paintings by renowned artist George Rodrigue. Originally created to accompany a compilation of ghost stories by author Chris Segura, Rodrigue’s imaginative renderings are steeped in his signature Cajun style. His labor of love, spanning three years, includes the first appearance of Rodrigue’s iconic “Blue Dog”—his cherished spaniel-terrier, Tiffany—marking a defining moment in the artist's career. Additional artists included in the exhibition: Ben Depp, Johanna Warwick, James Michalopoulos, Nathalie Miebach, Vitus Shell, Jesse Allison, Derrick Ostrenko, Ron Bechet, John T. Scott, Shirley Rabé Masinter, Malaika Favorite, Carl Joe Williams, Eric Waters, Gene Koss, Hunt Slonem, Rolland Golden, Tina Freeman, Carrie Mae Weems, Janice Sachse, Robert Warrens, Letitia Huckaby, Jonathan Bachman, Richard Misrach, Debbie Fleming Caffery, Dawn Dedeaux, David Freese, Thomas Neff, Michael Frederic Daugherty, Sidney Garrett, and Steve Rucker.
Afterwards, join us in The Gallery at Manship Theatre for James Michalopoulos’ free artist reception.
Happy Times, Spring in the City
"Happy Times, Spring in the City" showcases James Michalopoulos' vibrant vision of the South through his signature undulating style and bold color palette. This exhibition brings together his celebrated architectural paintings of New Orleans, lush Southern landscapes bursting with springtime energy, whimsical portraits of cows grazing in verdant fields, and his dynamic renderings of classic cars that capture the region's distinctive character and joie de vivre.
Michalopoulos began his winding route to New Orleans by way of Washington, DC. While on the road, he began to sketch to fill the free time. A flirtation with art became an affair. Then a marriage. A strictly plein air painter, Michalopoulos was challenged to find a winter locale to continue his work. In 1979, he was drawn to New Orleans as the last bastion of hippie bohemian culture in America. The city and its “Culture of Celebration” held an intense appeal. He began sketching artists and musicians, houses and street corners.
Fascinated with the duality of beauty and decay, the architecture of the city became his muse. His portraits of shotgun houses and Creole cottages, depicted in layer upon layer of thick impasto paint, brimmed with color and energy and captured the essence of his subject. This body of work established him as the most influential living artist in the region today.
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