GERARD HUBER

b.1949, Waterloo, IA, USA Lives in Texas, USA

“My goal is to challenge contempt for the nude male figure—thought to be embarrassing at best and at worst, indecent. My exploration involves placing homoerotic male nudes in spaces that engage the viewer either as voyeur or partner. The work is intended to challenge the viewer to examine their values and prejudices vis-a-vis intimacy and the nude male, their own beliefs and values about the naked body, to resolve the question of good and evil regarding nudity in general, and male nudity in particular, and to provide a peacefully sensual space that challenges heteronormative assumptions and demonstrates that same-sex relationships are wholesome, healthy and lifeaffirming.”

Gerard Huber is a highly accomplished artist known for his unique approach to airbrushed acrylic paintings. His artistic journey began with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Painting and Printmaking from the University of Northern Iowa in 1971. Seeking further knowledge and inspiration, Huber pursued studies in Figure Drawing and Contemporary Theology at the University of Notre Dame in 1971, and later participated in the esteemed Blossom-Kent Art Program at Kent State University in 1973.

In 1975, Huber’s passion for his craft led him to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Painting and Drawing from Cranbrook Academy of Art, where he had the privilege of studying under the esteemed artist George Ortman. Throughout his artistic career, Huber’s work has garnered recognition and accolades, including a prestigious Mid-America Arts Alliance/National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship in Painting in 1994. Huber’s artistic journey has taken him to various residencies and art communities, including The Vermont Studio Center in Johnson, Vermont, where he was a Resident Fellow in 2008. He also had the opportunity to spend time at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts in Lynchburg, Virginia, on two separate occasions in 1987 and 1988.

Additionally, Huber was a resident fellow at the Cummington Community of Art, Cummington, Massachusetts, in 1988. His exploration of art has extended beyond American borders, as he served as a Visiting Artist/Visiting Scholar at the esteemed American Academy in Rome, Italy, in 2013 and 2015.

Huber’s captivating airbrushed acrylic paintings have graced the walls of over 100 exhibitions, showcasing his talent and unique artistic style. His works have been displayed in renowned institutions such as the Joslyn Museum of Art in Omaha, Nebraska, the Arnot Art Museum in Elmira, NY, Parsons School of Design in New York, NY, Salmagundi Club in New York, NY, the Arkansas Art Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, and many others.

After an illustrious career spanning forty-seven years, Gerard Huber retired in 2022 from the Department of Art at Texas A&M University-Commerce, formerly known as East Texas State University. His contributions to the field of art and his dedication to teaching have left an indelible impact on the artistic community, inspiring countless students to explore their own artistic journeys.

Airbrushed acrylic 37 x 59 in.