The summer of 2008, the New Orleans Museum of Art presented A Tribute to Cole Pratt: His Gallery’s First 15 Years, 1993- 2008, an exhibition of work by 29 artists represented by the influential New Orleans based gallerist. Pratt passed away unexpectedly on April 19.

Robert Coleman “Cole” Pratt, Jr. (1955-2008), a native of Mississippi, was well known for the Magazine Street gallery he opened in Uptown New Orleans in 1993. The Cole Pratt Gallery showcased artists from around the world, but built its reputation on those with ties to New Orleans and the South.

A Tribute to Cole Pratt: His Gallery’s First Fifteen Years, 1993-2008 included work by Leslie Addison, Wayne Amedee, Randy Asprodites, Lea Barton, James Beaman, Robert Berguson, Barbara Brainard, Andrew Bucci, Marie Bukowski, Denyce Celentano, Aaron Collier, Christine Cozic, Judy Cooper, Susan Downing-White, Carolyn Evans, Miriam Hirsch, Richard Johnson, Robert Lansden, Gary Martin, Dale Newkirk, Katie Rafferty, Sylvaine Sancton, Phil Sandusky, Karen Stastny, Paul Tarver, Glennray Tutor, Hasmig Vartanian, Evert Witte, and Carlos Zervigon.

Of the 29 artists, nine are represented in NOMA’s permanent collection: Amedee, Bucci, Cooper, Evans, Hirsch, Johnson, Sandusky, Tarver, and Vartanian.