Rodrigue Studios

Rodrigue Studios is a gallery devoted to Louisiana artist George Rodrigue, at 730 Royal Street in New Orleans’s French Quarter. The Blue Dog paintings draw the eye, but the collection also spans Cajun scenes and other stages of Rodrigue’s work, including paintings, prints and sculptures. You can see original pieces and learn about the artist’s life and Cajun roots from the gallery staff. The atmosphere is welcoming to browsers, so you can take in the collection without feeling pressed to buy.

The story behind the Blue Dog

George Rodrigue grew up in Louisiana and drew on Cajun culture throughout his career. He first painted the Blue Dog in 1984 for Bayou, a collection of Louisiana ghost stories released alongside that year’s World’s Fair in New Orleans. Rodrigue’s starting point was the loup-garou, a werewolf from Cajun legend. His interpretation became the Blue Dog, a figure with yellow eyes that later became his best-known subject.

The work connects the gallery’s familiar blue figure to a specific Louisiana story. Rodrigue’s paintings also include Cajun landscapes and oak tree motifs, giving visitors a chance to see more than one side of his work.

A gallery on Royal Street

Rodrigue opened his first gallery in 1989 and continued working until his death in 2013. Rodrigue Studios, which opened in 2010, is dedicated to his art. The collection includes original paintings as well as prints and sculptures, with the Blue Dog works shown alongside pieces from other periods and styles.

Staff can share context about Rodrigue’s life and the ideas behind his work. Books on display offer additional historical details. The gallery also carries silver jewelry inspired by his art.