Jackson Square & the New Orleans Art Scene

Jackson Square is perhaps the Crescent City's most recognizable landmark, drawing over 2 million visitors annually to its historic 2.5-acre expanse in the heart of the French Quarter (10). This iconic public space has evolved from a military parade ground into a vibrant cultural center that showcases the artistic spirit of New Orleans -- despite its controversial namesake.

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From Place d'Armes to Public Square

Originally known as Place d'Armes, Jackson Square began taking shape in August 1721 when French engineers laid out plans for the new colonial capital of La Louisiane (1). The site was conceived as a fortified town at the bend of the Mississippi River, following the latest engineering principles with a grid of streets surrounding a central square fronting the river (1). In early 18th-century French colonial architecture, a place d'armes served as a key feature of any good town plan, designed to accommodate the principal buildings like the great church, town hall, and Government House (1).

The square initially served multiple functions including a military parade ground, an open-air market, and a site of public execution and punishment (16). During the Spanish colonial period, it was known as Plaza de Armas, maintaining its role as the heart of everyday life in New Orleans (9). The flagpole that stands today symbolizes the 1803 ceremonial transfers from Spain to France and then from France to the United States, reflecting Louisiana's rich colonial history (2).

Jackson Square Art and the Birth of an Artist Colony

The transformation of Jackson Square into an arts destination began in the aftermath of the Civil War, when Confederate soldiers' wives and widows reportedly displayed their art on the fence around the square to support their families (6). A more documented origin of the Jackson Square art colony dates to 1890, when artists like William Aiken Walker and the Woodward brothers lived in the area (6). Historical evidence even suggests that John James Audubon painted and sold his work on Jackson Square before the Civil War (6).

The 1920s marked a pivotal decade for establishing an organized artist colony, coinciding with efforts to reinvent Jackson Square as a "Mecca of Bohemians" that would surpass Greenwich Village (11). The New Orleans Arts and Crafts Club, founded in 1922, firmly established the French Quarter as the center of visual arts production in the city (21). By the 1950s, the Jackson Square art colony had become so well-established that sixth grade students took field trips to watch "professional artists at work" (11).

The city formalized the artists' presence in 1956 by passing an ordinance requiring licensing, which legitimized and protected their right to produce, display, and sell original artwork on Jackson Square (6). This recognition led to the formation of the Jackson Square Artists Committee, which has successfully operated for over half a century (6). At its peak, Jackson Square was home to over 300 artists, occupying every section of fence and extending into surrounding areas (12).

Artists of Color in Jackson Square

Jackson Square has long served as a platform for artists of color, thanks to New Orleans' historical three-tiered racial system that provided some opportunities for free people of color during the antebellum period (8). The first known African American artist in New Orleans was painter Louis Pepite, who studied with Italian scene painter Jean Baptiste Fogliardi in the 1820s (8). While Pepite was his student, Fogliardi painted a triumphal arch placed in the Place d'Armes to celebrate General Lafayette's visit in 1825 (8).

More documented is Julien Hudson, a portraitist and miniaturist born in 1811, who was the son of a free New Orleans quadroon and an English merchant (8). Hudson studied with Antonio Meucci in 1826 and later in Paris before opening a studio in New Orleans in 1831 (8). These early examples demonstrate how Jackson Square and its surrounding area provided a venue for artists of color to develop their craft and establish careers despite the constraints of their era.

The square's role as a cultural center has continued into the modern era, hosting generations of musicians and artists from diverse backgrounds (1). You can still stroll Jackson Square's open-air gallery where artists work through all seasons, protected only by patio umbrellas, creating a democratic space where art transcends racial and economic boundaries (12).

The Controversy of Andrew Jackson's Legacy

The square was renamed Jackson Square in 1851 to honor Andrew Jackson, credited with victory in the 1815 Battle of New Orleans and later the seventh U.S. president (2). However, Jackson's legacy carries significant controversy due to his role as a slave owner and architect of the Indian Removal Act of 1830 (17). Jackson owned hundreds of slaves and worked to censor anti-slavery mailings from northern abolitionists (17). The Indian Removal Act led to the forced expulsion of Native Americans east of the Mississippi River, including the Cherokee Trail of Tears that resulted in thousands of deaths (18).

In recent years, protesters have challenged monuments to Jackson, arguing that they represent white supremacist history incompatible with the diverse community that New Orleans has become (7). Critics point out that Jackson, as president, signed the controversial Indian Removal Act and expressed strong opposition to abolitionists (17). These protests reflect broader national conversations about how public spaces commemorate morally corrupt historical figures.

Conclusion

Jackson Square remains New Orleans' beating heart, where three centuries of history converge in a space no larger than the modest 2.5 acres that French engineers originally laid out (1). Despite the controversy surrounding its namesake, the square has evolved into something far greater than any single individual's legacy. It epitomizes to the power of public spaces to foster creativity, community, and cultural expression. From its origins as a military parade ground to its current status as an open-air gallery and performance space, Jackson Square has become a place where diverse cultures, painful histories, and artistic brilliance coexist in tension.

Guy Lyman Fine Art curates artworks from across New Orleans' broad history and demographics. Check out our selection here!

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