The Bayou Collection by George Rodrigue
“We have all these things other places don’t have: oak trees, swamps, bayous—all this rich atmosphere, and it’s dark. I wanted to paint things we were losing, things that were fading away.”
George Rodrigue, Watch Dog, 1981-1984. Oil on canvas. Private Collection, ©George Godfrey Rodrigue, Jr. Family Trust.
Traveling Exhibition: Book Today!
The LSU Museum of Art is pleased to travel The Bayou Collection by George Rodrigue, a remarkable exhibition of paintings by Louisiana artist George Rodrigue (1944–2013), offering audiences an in-depth look at one of Rodrigue’s most pivotal bodies of work.
Created between 1981 and 1984, The Bayou Collection features forty original paintings inspired by Cajun folklore and ghost stories, produced to accompany author Chris Segura’s book Bayou (Inkwell Press, 1984). The works capture Louisiana’s mysterious swamps, haunting legends, and enduring cultural spirit through Rodrigue’s vivid imagination and mastery of storytelling.
Among these paintings is Watch Dog, one of Rodrigue’s most transformative works and the quiet beginning of what would become his world-famous Blue Dog series. The composition—originally illustrating the ghost story Slaughter House—features a spectral canine inspired by Rodrigue’s late dog Tiffany and the loup-garou, the shape-shifting werewolf of Cajun legend.
If you are interested in booking this exhibition, please contact Michelle Schulte, Chief Curator of Exhibitions & Collections at the LSU Museum of Art, mschulte@lsu.edu or 225-578-6259.
About the Artist
Born and raised in New Iberia, deep in the heart of Cajun Country, Louisiana, George Rodrigue (1944–2013) was a visionary painter who dedicated his life to capturing and preserving the culture, landscapes, and legends of his heritage. His artistic journey began in childhood, when Rodrigue first picked up a paintbrush while bedridden with polio in the third grade. He went on to study art at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and later at the Art Center College of Design in California. These formative experiences laid the foundation for what would become one of the most remarkable success stories in American art. Upon returning to his home state, the artist realized the uniqueness of Louisiana and made it his mission to graphically interpret Cajun culture, documenting a world he feared was disappearing under the weight of modernization. Rodrigue’s early paintings express his passion for the South—richly detailed tableaux featuring Louisiana people and places, rendered in darkened, Renaissance-inspired tones.
The Bayou Collection
In 1981, Rodrigue was commissioned to create illustrations for a book of Louisiana ghost stories. Over three years, he painted one image for each of the forty tales written by Chris Segura, blending folklore with his signature style. The resulting series, The Bayou Collection, stands as a pivotal moment in Rodrigue’s career—bridging his early Cajun portraits and his later pop-cultural fame through the Blue Dog.
Until 2025, The Bayou Collection was housed at the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts Education Center in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was rarely exhibited outside of the city. Through the generous support of a prominent art collector and patron of Louisiana State University, the LSU Museum of Art is proud to offer the complete forty-piece collection for loan to museums across the United States.
About the LSU Museum of Art
The LSU Museum of Art (LSUMOA), located on the fifth floor of the Shaw Center for the Arts in downtown Baton Rouge, serves as a vibrant hub for art and community engagement in southern Louisiana. With a collection of more than 7,000 works, the museum showcases art that explores diverse cultural narratives and American experiences. Founded in 1959, LSUMOA continues to grow as a leader in museum education, exhibitions, and cultural preservation. Learn more about the museum at lsumoa.org
The Bayou Collection by George Rodrigue was organized by the LSU Museum of Art, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Curatorial and interpretive components by Michelle Schulte, Chief Curator of Collections & Exhibitions, and Misty Pride, Curatorial Assistant; designs and branding by Sarah Amacker, Communications & Marketing Specialist; educational materials by Callie Smith, PhD, Educator & Public Programs Manger; digital components by Carlos Ramon, LSU PhD Candidate; and Bayou research by Luka Glenum-Horachek, Hampshire College student and LSU Museum of Art intern.
Installation Views
