Art

As autumn unfolds in New Orleans, the city comes alive with revitalizing breezes and seasonal festivities. Whether you’re a fan hoping to bask in the excitement of a Saints game at a local watch party, or perhaps you are just looking to do a little retail therapy and have a bite, it’s a vibrant and exciting time to take a stroll down Royal Street to peruse a few art galleries. It’s a great time to see some of our more fanciful and unusual galleries, well beyond the usual paintings of southern landscapes. We found these two galleries to be exceptionally creative!

We all eagerly await our first glance at the highly coveted and collectable Jazz Fest posters each year. Have you seen the magnificent poster for this year’s Jazz Fest painted by one of our most well-known, influential, and recognizable living painters, James Michalopoulos? He has become an iconic figure in New Orleans’ vibrant landscape, renowned for his distinctive artistic style and deep connection to the city. He lives as he paints; rhythmically, with heavy texture, dynamic movement and purpose. His paintings are in prestigious collections world-wide.

Craig Tracy, a pioneer of unconventional art, has created captivating images utilizing human bodies as canvases since 2001. Tracy's upbringing in New Orleans immersed him in the city's dynamic culture and influenced his artistic passion. Craig's parents, who were part of the nonconformist hippie movement, nurtured his creativity and instilled in him a unique perspective on art and life. "It was always evident that I was destined to be a professional artist," Craig recalls. Throughout his youth, Craig's art was filled with depictions of love and beauty.

Blond-haired, blue-eyed, and cowboy-booted P. J. Hahn has worn more hats in his many careers than he has cowboy boots, and he is the self-proclaimed Imelda Marcos of the cowboy boot world! He has been a photographer for over thirty years. He’s a conservationist, author, speaker, teacher and President/CEO of Pelican Coast Consulting, LLC. He was a policeman in Texas, Coastal Director of Plaquemines Parish Government, President of the Levee Board, Captain of Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and has had myriad other business ventures. To say that he is multi-faceted is an understatement!

Isabelle Jacopin, a Brittany, France-born painter, has been drawn to the world of art since her early childhood. Her artistic journey began at the age of 18 when she embarked on a self-taught exploration of various mediums. Initially, she expressed her creativity by painting on silk, a venture that sustained her livelihood. Throughout the years, Jacopin has remained dedicated to her craft by continuously experimenting with different artistic mediums and techniques.