In the center of Rosemary Beach, tucked between winding brick paths and pastel buildings, a bright blue dog sits patiently in the sun. Officially titled Colors of My Mind, the 8-foot-tall sculpture by the late George Rodrigue has quietly become a staple of the town — one Rosemary Beach residents and visitors embrace, often without realizing it.
Rodrigue, known worldwide for his iconic Blue Dog paintings, spent years developing the concept for this sculpture. According to his widow, Wendy Rodrigue, Colors of My Mind was deeply connected to the way Rodrigue worked with materials and light. The dog’s glossy surface appears to shift with the changing light, transforming under the Gulf Coast sun from deep navy to vibrant cobalt to soft sky blue.
The piece was first unveiled in 2017 as part of the inaugural Rosemary Beach Sculpture Exhibition. During the ceremony, Wendy Rodrigue announced that the sculpture would remain in Rosemary Beach permanently — a gift to a community the Rodrigues had visited and supported for years through local school partnerships. A gift that has not been forgotten.
Today, the Blue Dog feels less like an art piece and more like a familiar presence. Visitors pause to admire it, often exchanging quiet words.
“It’s so simple, but it makes you stop and smile,” one passerby said to a companion while walking past the sculpture.
It has become such a staple that people across Florida can be seen wearing Blue Dog merchandise or displaying Blue Dog artwork in their homes.
The dog’s stillness and ever-changing color seem to reflect the mood of the town itself — calm on quiet mornings, lively by midday, reflective at sunset. Some locals say they hardly notice it anymore — until they do, and it reminds them of the quiet beauty woven into everyday life. Many can’t imagine what the town was like before the sculpture arrived.
The permanence of Colors of My Mind mirrors Rosemary Beach’s broader commitment to weaving public art into daily life, creating moments of connection in spaces designed for movement and bustle. It allows both visitors and locals to pause, take a breath and admire the artistry of the late George Rodrigue.
As visitors continue to pause, reflect and move on, the Blue Dog remains steady — a simple figure, a familiar face, and a reminder that sometimes, the most lasting connections are the ones we almost stumble upon.
About George Rodrigue and the Blue Dog
George Rodrigue (1944–2013) was a Louisiana-born artist who gained worldwide fame through his Blue Dog paintings. What began as a tribute to Cajun folklore — inspired by the legend of the loup-garou and modeled after Rodrigue’s own dog, Tiffany — evolved into a broader symbol of resilience, memory and imagination.
Over time, the Blue Dog became more than a single story. It became a companion for viewers — a steady presence that stirred both joy and reflection. Rodrigue’s work often explored how simple images could evoke complex emotions, a theme Colors of My Mind brings to life in three dimensions.
The sculpture now standing in Rosemary Beach was permanently donated by Wendy Rodrigue following its 2017 unveiling. Today, it remains not just a landmark, but a quiet reminder of Rodrigue’s belief that art belongs in everyday life — not locked away in galleries, but present where people live, walk and gather.
Learn more about Rodrigue’s work and legacy at georgerodriguefoundation.org.
