Bunny Matthews

Arthur Roger Gallery is pleased to present Bunny Matthews, an exhibition celebrating original pen-and-ink drawings, colored pencil works, and social satire by legendary New Orleans cartoonist, writer, and cultural icon Bunny Matthews (1951–2021). Opening on Saturday, October 03, 2026, from 6 – 8 PM during Art for Arts’ Sake, the show presents a comprehensive look at the artist's draftsmanship, sharp graphic wit, and deep affection for the people and dialects of New Orleans.

 

This exhibition coincides with a landmark moment in the recognition of Matthews’ legacy: the release of the definitive hardcover biography Bunny Matthews: His Life, Art, and Obsessions by Alison Fensterstock and Michael Tisserand (published by The Historic New Orleans Collection, 2026), as well as the major institutional retrospective exhibition Don’t Be Boring: The Life, Art, and Obsessions of Bunny Matthews on view at The Historic New Orleans Collection (HNOC).

 

Best known as the creator of the quintessential Ninth Ward couple Vic and Nat'ly Broussard—introduced in 1982 in The Times-Picayune's Dixie magazine—Matthews transformed local "Yat" culture, working-class humor, and neighborhood vernacular into enduring pop art icons. Accompanied by Nat'ly’s towering beehive hairstyle, unshaven Vic, and their wisecracking pet Chihuahua, Matthews' characters graced everything from local comic strips to Leidenheimer Baking Co. bread trucks, Barq’s Root Beer anniversary posters, Bacchus Mardi Gras floats, and murals at the Audubon Zoo, Audubon Insectarium, and Louisiana State Museum.

 

Beyond his cartooning, Matthews was a central figure in New Orleans’ music and journalistic renaissance. As an influential entertainment writer for Figaro, Gambit, OffBeat, and Wavelength, he forged close friendships with music legends including James Booker (writing album liner notes) and Professor Longhair, and was one of the original fourteen founders of Tipitina’s music hall. Art critic Eric Bookhardt hailed Matthews’ draftsmanship as a "traditional post-psychedelic baroque caricature style," placing his biting line work in the lineage of great 19th-century social satirists.

 

Featured works on view include Hello Busta! (1998, pen and ink with colored pencil on paper), alongside rare original illustrations, political and musical satires, and single-panel character studies that illuminate his mastery of line, humor, and social observation.

 

About the Artist

Born Will Bunn Matthews III in Monroe, Louisiana, on February 15, 1951, Bunny Matthews grew up in the New Orleans area and began publishing drawings and prose in early childhood. Starting with his breakthrough book F'Sure! Actual Dialogue Heard on the Streets of New Orleans (1979), Matthews documented the visual, verbal, and musical soul of South Louisiana for over four decades.

 

Matthews exhibited regularly with Arthur Roger Gallery, including solo shows Dis and Dat (2023), Before and After (2016), The People of New Orleans From A to Z (2014), and Black and White (2010). His work is held in permanent public collections including The Historic New Orleans Collection, the Louisiana State Museum, and the Audubon Insectarium, as well as prominent private collections globally (including George Clooney and Linda Ronstadt). Bunny Matthews passed away on June 1, 2021.

 

For press inquiries, high-resolution image requests, or sales details, please contact Arthur Roger Gallery at 504.522.1999 or visit ArthurRogerGallery.com.