Bunny Matthews, American/Louisiana b. 1951, “Trying to Attract His Attention”, oil on canvas diptych

Lot description

Bunny Matthews American/Louisiana, b. 1951 "Trying to Attract His Attention" oil on canvas diptych 1993, signed and dated lower right of left panel, signed, titled, dated and inscribed "(Left)" and "(Right)" on respective stretcher bars, unframed. (2 pcs.) Note: Will Bunn "Bunny" Matthews III was a well-known and beloved cartoonist and writer whose signature characters, Vic and Nat'ly Broussard, became quintessential symbols of New Orleans. Born in Monroe, Matthews moved to Metairie at the age of three. He attended the University of New Orleans, although he had little formal art training. He began as a cartoonist in 1968 for alternative and weekly papers, and by 1982, he was regularly published in The Times-Picayune, where Vic and Nat'ly's commentary on the local scene, on the city's cultural and social issues, served as the basis for much humor and controversy in the nineteen years they appeared. Matthews was part of a circle of 1980s New Orleans artists, including George Febres, Douglas Bourgeois and Jacqueline Bishop, who favored highly detailed, recognizable renderings. A mural by Matthews appeared at the 1984 World's Fair, and his works were regularly exhibited in galleries and museums. He also actively participated in the local music industry. In his cartoons and his paintings, Matthews was ascribed titles such as "provocateur" and "rebel." His paintings retain the immediacy, humor and vibrancy of his cartoons while re-affirming these labels. Ref.: MacCash, Doug. "Bunny Matthews, the Cartoonist Creator of Vic and Nat'ly, Dies at 70." www.nola.com. Accessed Oct. 3, 2025.