James Booker, a piano virtuoso, was known as the Piano Pope, among his nick names. Notice the Maple Leaf Roasary symbolizing his years playing at Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Street in New Orleans & the 3rd eye (or in Booker's case-2nd eye) in the center of his mitre!
11x14 fine art signed numbered limited edition print archival pigment on 100% cotton rag-
copyrighted, may not be reproduced without permission of the artist
archivl pigment on 100% cotton rag paper
I am a self taught painter, primarily influenced by my Southern roots and, in particular, my past 15 years in the Gulf South. I am drawn to the landscapes, architecture and people that make up the rich and diverse culture of the region, particularly Louisiana, but also the people from past and present who are part of my Southern roots. I portray these influences in my work using both real and symbolic elements in my storytelling style that merges past with present. Magical realism, religious imagery and iconography are key elements in my visionary imagism.
The symbolism I incorporate is of things I consider sacred, sentimental, cherished, and often personal, interwoven with broader themes. I grew up very much alone & imagination was an integral part of my childhood and created the solitary world in which I lived.
My work is done in the studio, using & combining photographs I take constantly, preferring the path less traveled, and from compositions that I create in my imagination. My collection of iconic musicians and culture bearers paintings are created from extensive research and by using as many as 20 images to uniquely portray each one. My work is in private collections nationally & internationally, public & corporate collections, and used in a variety of film productions. I was selected for two Prospect 4 Satellite Exhibitions in 2017, and my work has been selected and shown by the New Orleans Arts Council, featured in Country Roads Magazine, New Orleans Canvas Magazine, and the cover & artist feature of Iron Lattice Magazine. I have regularly exhibited in shows and galleries in New Orleans & Mississippi for the past 10 years and have been selected as a JazzFest artist since 2018. My work was selected in 2022 as part of the “Remember Earth?” exhibit at the New Orleans Contemporary Art Center and also shown at the Pensacola Museum of Art.
I do not create art to match the sofa. My intention is that you can connect through my paintings to experience joy, amusement, and sentimentality.
Commissions welcome! Studio visits welcome!
All work is copyrighted and may not be reproduced in any form without permission of the artist.
I am a New Orleans artist living and working in the Uptown area.
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