Art has the capacity to give a voice to the voiceless, to shine a light on those who are normally tuned out, and to honor unsung heroes. When a piece of art is massive, it becomes impossible to ignore. Complex and Bombay Sapphire recently teamed up to commission two large scale portraits in New Orleans showcasing noble individuals that went unheralded in the wake of Hurricane Katrina for our documentary series, The Avant Guards.
Visual artist Brandan Odums and Bombay Sapphire Artisan Series winner Aron Belka both rep NOLA to the fullest, using the sights and sounds of the city as constant inspiration for their artworks. Painting local figureheads who helped with aid during the devastating hurricane of 2005, one through flood relief and the other through local music, the artists’ collaboration immortalized their larger than life undertakings in a larger than life medium. Learn more about the muralists and their contemporary patron saints by watching the video above.
