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Regular Session, 2012 ENROLLED
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 88
BY SENATOR PETERSON
A RESOLUTION
To commend Ted Ellis for his many contributions to the greater New Orleans area and to the
world of art.
WHEREAS, Ted Ellis is a nationally acclaimed southern artist, originally from New
Orleans; and
WHEREAS, in a mere ten years, T. Ellis Art, Inc., has sold over one million five
hundred thousand prints and posters nationwide, and the private collectors of his art are
many and scattered throughout the globe; and
WHEREAS, major corporations have commissioned Mr. Ellis' work, a few of which
include Walt Disney Studios, The Minute Maid Company, Coca-Cola, Phillip Morris, and
Avon, Inc.; and
WHEREAS, with a body of work celebrating African-American life and culture,
reminiscent of Romare Bearden and Jacob Lawrence, Mr. Ellis has garnered a following
among New York's art elite and throughout the country; and
WHEREAS, growing up in New Orleans, Mr. Ellis has the unique gift of capturing
the essence of the characters of his childhood in the glory of their rich cultural heritage; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Ellis' visual narratives in his famed series "Celebrating American
Life and Culture", document the passion, dignity, strength and unyielding courage of these
subjects, boldly blending realism and impressionism, evoking nostalgia and inspiration, and
the series vividly pans through the social, spiritual, work and family life settings of his
southern roots, creating a cultural heirloom for African-Americans and a national treasure
for America; and
WHEREAS, in August of 2005, the landscape that birthed those memorable images
of New Orleans changed forever with the arrival of Hurricane Katrina; and SR NO. 88 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, now a resident of Friendswood, Texas, near Houston, Mr. Ellis returned
to his beloved hometown after the hurricane to witness first hand the devastating loss of his
mother's home and childhood neighborhood, which were completely destroyed, along with
several of his priceless paintings, one of which had been on display in a local elementary
school. Known for his generosity and proactive spirit, Mr. Ellis housed and aggressively
worked to relocate over sixty relatives from his immediate and extended families; and
WHEREAS, several weeks after the hurricane, Mr. Ellis was featured on MSNBC
discussing how his family would begin the daunting task of rebuilding their lives; and
months after, most of his family has been successful in beginning the rebuilding process, but
the searing images of loss have placed a burden on his heart to keep the story in the public's
eye; and with a new backdrop etched in his mind, he once again has taken to brush and
canvas to bring the deeply poignant images to life in his new series of paintings; and
WHEREAS, the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Greater New Orleans
Chapter had an art show presenting Mr. Ellis' work, April 15
th
, 2012, at McKenna Museum
of African Art, in New Orleans.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana
does hereby congratulate and extend sincere appreciation to Ted Ellis for his many
contributions to the greater New Orleans area and all the lives he has touched, taught, and
healed in the state through his artwork.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to Ted
Ellis.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE