Description:

William Hemmerling
American/Louisiana, 1943-2009
"Decatur St., Vieux Carre"
oil on panel
signed lower left, unframed.

Note: William "Bill" Hemmerling was born in Chicago and moved to his mother's hometown of Ponchatoula, Louisiana as a young man, where he worked as a window dresser for Sears & Roebuck until 2002. Upon retirement, Hemmerling began painting in his own distinctive style after encountering a board on the side of the railroad tracks during a morning jog and feeling compelled to paint on it. A self-taught folk artist, Hemmerling utilized recycled materials and incorporated found objects, house paint and wood into his work. The media often influenced his subject matter and provided inspiration. His themes ranged from jazz musicians to a series of figurative works inspired by African American history and culture to the rare French Quarter street scene, such as the work offered here. Hemmerling was represented at ART EXPO in New York, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and FI-ART in Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. He was honored by the New Orleans Museum of Art and the Northshore Regional Endowment for the Arts. A deeply spiritual painter, Hemmerling viewed the world with a childlike innocence and wonder that translated into artwork that uniquely captures the soul of Louisiana.

Ref.: Rose, Chris. "Louisiana Folk Artist Bill Hemmerling Dies at Home in Ponchatoula." The Times-Picayune. June 16, 2009. www.nola.com. Accessed: Jan. 7, 2026; Dubos, Clancy. "Dancing With God – In Memory of Bill Hemmerling." Gambit. June 21, 2009. www.nola.com/gambit. Accessed Jan. 7, 2026.

  • Dimensions: 24 x 48 in. (61 x 121.9 cm.)
  • Medium: oil on panel
  • Condition: No signs of past restoration; toning of the uneven varnish layer; scattered surface abrasions, marks, and small pigment losses; panel is nailed to brace.

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January 23, 2026 11:00 AM CST
New Orleans, LA, US

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