Gary T. Erbe, a self taught painter in the medium of oil, was born in Union City, New Jersey in 1944 where he maintained his studio from 1972 to 2005. Erbe was employed as an engraver from 1965 to 1970 while developing his personal approach to Trompe L’Oeil painting. In 1969, he coined the term “Levitational Realism” which was a break away from traditional realism. In 1970, he made a decision which would profoundly change his life; he decided to pursue art full time. He has been painting professionally for over 40 years.

Erbe has exhibited extensively since 1970 with solo shows at The Butler Institute of American Art, Ohio, The Springfield Art Museum, MO, The Montclair Art Museum, NJ, The Boca Raton Museum, Fl., The New Jersey State Museum, The New Britain Museum of American Art, CT, The Canton Art Museum, OH, The Westmoreland Museum, PA, The National Arts Club, NYC, The James A. Michener Art Museum, PA; The Woodmere Art Museum, PA; The Alexander Gallery, NYC , ACA Galleries, NYC, Harmon Meek Gallery, Naples, Fl., Albuquerque Museum, NM, The Salmagundi Club, NYC and others.

A partial list of awards include The Julius Hallgarten Award at The National Academy of Design, 1975, Allied Artists of America Gold Medal, 1975, 1984,1991, 2006,2007 and 2010; Audubon Artists Gold Medal, 1998, The National Arts Club First Prize, 1997, The Butler Institute of America Art National Mid-Year First Place Award, 2002, Presidents Award , The Salmagundi Club, Audubon Artists Silver Medal, 2002, The Butler Institute of American Art Lifetime Achievement Medal, 2003; Salmagundi Club Medal of Honor, 2007, National Museum of Sport Gold Medal 2010 amongst others.

Artist with Construction for "Take Five"

Among the many group shows Erbe has participated in are “American Art on the Brink of the 21st Century” organized by Meridian International in Washington, D.C. that traveled for 2 years in the Far East. “Still Life from Rembrandt to the Millennium” at The Albuquerque Museum, New Mexico, “68 Years/68 Masters” at the ACA Galleries, NYC, “True Colors: Meditation on the American Spirit” organized by Meridian International and traveling to NYC, Atlanta, GA and throughout Europe, Trompe L'Oeil Exhibition at The Ettinger Gallery, NYC, The Woodson Art Museum in Wisconsin, The Albemarle Gallery, London, England, Vanier Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ,  The Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK, Rittenhouse Fine Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA, The Brandywine River Museum, PA "Trompe l'oeil Invitational Exhibition", amongst others.

Erbe is a member of Allied Artists of America and served as its President from 1994 to 2005, Honorary Member of The National Arts Club and Salmagundi Club, Audubon Artists, Artists Fellowship, The Connecticut Academy of Fine Arts, Trompe l'Oeil Society of Artists and America China Oil Painting Artists League.

Erbe has organized and curated many exhibitions including Allied Artists of America Members Exhibition at The Butler Institute of American Art and traveling to ten museums throughout the America, The Salmagundi Club Collection traveling for 2 years to Museums in America, “Henry Gasser, Beyond City Limits”, traveling to 4 Museums, “The Pastel Society of America Invitational” to The Butler Institute of America Art, “The Martinos”, A Family Legacy”, traveling to The Butler Institute of America Art and The Woodmere Art Museum, Trompe L' Oeil Exhibition travelling for 2 years to 13 Museums,"Gabriela Dellosso: An Artist's Journey", "Paul Ching Bor: Watercolors"; "John R. Grabach: Century Man" traveling to 4 Museums, amongst others.

Erbe is listed in Who’s Who in American Art, Who’s Who in America, Biographical Encyclopedia of American Painters, Sculptors and Engravers of the United States, Who’s Who in the East, Who’s Who in the World and Davenport's Art Reference & Price Guide.

He is published in American Artist Magazine, July 1974 & December 2004, International Artists Magazine, Feb/March 2002, Best of Oil Painting by Rockport Publishing; American Art Collector, December 2005 and July 2009, Antiques and the Arts Weekly, July 24, 2009; Masterworks from The Butler Institute of American Art, 2010, amongst others.

Erbe’s work can be found in many public and private collections throughout the world.

Erbe currently maintains his studio at 62 Enclosure, Nutley, NJ 07110. He can be reached at 973-562-0067.

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