About the Artist
Alfred “Big Al” Taplet
Big Al Taplet first began painting old pieces of slate to advertise his Jackson Square shoe shine stand in New Orleans. Big Al would hang his signs on the fence and in the trees surrounding his stand to attract customers. His bold, colorful graphic signs with humorous sayings began to attract folk art collectors as well as the intended shoe shine customers. Big Al Taplet, along with his lighthearted creations, is listed in “Comtemporary American Folk Art, A Collector’s Guide” Rosenak and “Self-Taught, Outsider and Folk Art”, Betty-Carol Sellen.
After enduring and surviving Hurricane Katrina, Big Al moved to Texas where he lived and continued to work on his art.
Sadly, Big Al has since passed away. He had been in ill health for quite some time. He and his unique art will be greatly missed.