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Ricardo Pustanio is an enduring icon in the world of New Orleans Mardi Gras float design and local artistry. Today his phenomenal creative talents are witnessed by thousands upon thousands of locals and tourists who throng the streets of New Orleans each year to catch a glimpse of one of the oldest and most prestigious parades of the season, the Krewe of Mid-City. And according to Ricardo, “The best is still to come!”

Born in New Orleans, Ricardo is the third son of local golfing legend Eddie “Blackie” Pustanio, a well-known icon of the sport. When Ricardo was baptized, the famous “Diamond Jim” Moran was hailed as his godfather and all the major golfing pros who visited the elder Pustanio at his City Park Golf Course digs bounced little Ricardo on a famous knee at one time or another.

Like nearly every child brought up in the city of New Orleans, Ricardo was brought out by his parents to enjoy the pageantry and revelry of the great old-line Mardi Gras parades. These halcyon Mardi Gras days of his youth were Ricardo’s first taste of the passion that would become the artistic pinnacle of his later career. During the 1960s Ricardo’s entries won First Place and rode with the King of Mid-City three years in a row: a true precursor of things to come.

The winner of many art competitions throughout his life, his earliest prize-winning work was created while Ricardo was still in Kindergarten. From an early age, Ricardo’s work was distinguished with prizes and praise. the piece hung in the children’s area of the New Orleans Museum of Art for many years; other early works could be found on display in the New Orleans Cabildo. Most are now in private art collections in New Orleans and across the United States.

In the early 1970s Ricardo began a long association with local New Orleans radio station WRNO-FM, where he distinguished himself as Art Director for many years.

Ricardo Pustanio works on one of his popular Mardi Gras floats.

Ricardo’s special style was also very visible in his work on numerous backdrops and displays for the 1984 New Orleans World’s Fair; several of his original pieces from that fair have garnered high prices at auctions throughout the United States and Europe.

Ricardo served Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre as Technical Director for its 1992–1993 season, during which he contributed his considerable artistic talents to the creation of scenery and backdrops for the season’s major productions, including West Side Story and The Baby Dance. For the latter he created a giant 60 foot by 30 foot papier maché pyramid, one of the highlights of the season. Ricardo’s set designs for the productions of King Midas and the Golden Touch and The Snow Queen each won him numerous awards.

In 1992 Ricardo began his long association with William Crumb and the Children’s Educational Theatre. His work on scenery and backdrops has toured with the company in 13 major productions across the United States, and he continues to contribute his talents to the organization to this day. Ricardo has also donated his time and talent to a number of nonprofit organizations, including the Save Our Lake Foundation and the March of Dimes.

Ricardo displayed his talent with scenic design in some of the best-known, locally produced films, including Angel Heart, starring Mickey Rourke; The Big Easy, starring Dennis Quaid and Ellen Barkin; Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire, starring Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt; and most recently in the much anticipated A Love Song for Billy Long, which stars John Travolta and was filmed on location in historic New Orleans.

Ricardo has conceptualized and designed numerous book covers and illustrations for major works of science fiction and fantasy; he was voted Best New Artist of the Year at World Cons held in New Orleans and Amsterdam, Holland. Ricardo has also illustrated children’s books, created portraits and artwork for private clients across the United States and in Europe, and has to his credit three original action comic books, the illustration and design of the long-running International Middle Eastern Dancer magazine, and several decks of personalized Tarot cards.

Ricardo has said, in reflecting on his artist achievements: “I have paid my dues many times over the years and I am always in a constant state of expectation: I can’t wait for the next challenge, the next thing to approach me. I am probably most proud of my work with the Krewe of Mid-City in recent years, because they have allowed me an unlimited palette to create with: the only limit is my imagination, and as you see, that has never had any limits!”

Bill Oliver

Ricardo Pustanio’s hands have been busy creating artworks that have brought joy and pleasure to literally thousands of people over the years. It is no wonder that Ricardo has been named one of The Hardest Working Mardi Gras Artists in the City of New Orleans and in the history of Mardi Gras design.