Michael Guidry

is a New Orleans-based artist known for his vibrant, abstracted realist paintings inspired by the Louisiana natural world. His work often features local flora and fauna, such as alligators, herons, and marsh grass, combining environmental observation with personal history and myth. 

Style and Process

Guidry's work is characterized by a blend of classical techniques and contemporary experimentation. He begins paintings with traditional monochromatic studies and then abstracts lines and colors in a phase he calls "wishful thinking". His unique style, which has been described as "punk rock Audubon," incorporates humor and a distinct perspective on Southern Louisiana's natural environment. 

He works in his studio from a variety of sources, including life, memory, and imagination. He also hand-builds his own wood substrates and frames, and experiments with making his own pigments and encaustic paints. 

Background and Inspiration

• Education: Guidry earned a journalism degree from Louisiana State University, where he also took classes in sculpture and painting. He further refined his skills in classical drawing and painting at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Arts.

• Inspiration: Much of his inspiration comes from time spent at his fishing camp in the Louisiana salt marsh, where he observes wildlife and the fragile wetlands.

• Career: His art has been widely exhibited, including annually at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival since 2008, and is held in various private and commercial collections.