Accession 2000-41 - David Thauberger

David was born in Holdfast, Saskatchewan in 1948 and studied with David Gilhooly in ceramics at the University of Saskatchewan, Regina Campus, where “funk” artist David Gilhooly served as an early mentor to him as well as other artists of the region.

David Thauberger received a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree in 1971 from the California State University at Sacramento and a Masters degree in Art in 1972.

He earned a Masters degree in Fine Arts at the University of Montana in 1973, and then returned to Saskatchewan where his importance as an Canadian artist grew.

Thauberger worked primarily with ceramics until 1975 when he switched to painting. He took instruction from “untutored artists” or "folk artists" and through his work as a consultant with the Saskatchewan Arts Board from 1974 to 1978 and from 1983 to 1985 he became aware of the work of many of these artists in the province. He was able to research them and purchased their work, he began curating exhibitions and contributing to documentaries and art books about them.

He admires community life, and the values that folk art often represents, believing that through perceptions of place and tradition truly authentic art work is created.

Thauberger’s work is found in numerous public, private and corporate collections, he has exhibited his work throughout North America and is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of the Arts. Thauberger’s many awards and grants include his appointment as a member of the Order of Canada in 2008 and in 2009 being awarded the Lieutenant Governors award for Saskatchewan Artist Award. David Thauberger has also served on the board of the Canada Council for the Arts.

He currently lives and works in Regina, Saskatchewan