Artworks

Growing up in Good Hope, Louisiana, not far from New Orleans, artist David Butler was surrounded by a wide breadth of cultural ideas and customs from a young age. Though he was raised on Biblical scripture, Butler was also exposed to the African folklore and beliefs that permeated throughout the area. Butler began sculpting and woodworking as a child under the tutelage of his father, however he didn’t pursue his own artistic vision until after his retirement and the death of his wife Elnora. This period of immense change inspired a chronic anxiety in Butler, which he confounded with a mix of spirituality and creativity. 

Inspired by a combination of his Christian background and spiritual beliefs, Butler began adorning his property with colorful kinetic sculptures which he believed could protect him from the harsh realities of the world. His roof was decorated with whirligigs, his garden with tin flowers, and his window with decorative coverings which he referred to as “spirit shields.” 

By the 1980s, Butler had garnered the attention of several collectors, and became famous for the vibrant metal renderings that engulfed his environment. Though Butler maintained that he was not an artist until his death, his work has been integrated into several prolific museums and collections throughout the world.