This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Born and raised in northern Wisconsin, Gerald Balciar had an interest in animal art that was apparent from childhood. He works in marble and bronze, and in 1995 completed the tallest marble sculpture in the world. It was carved from a single piece of marble and installed at the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City.
He is a member of the National Sculpture Society, National Academy of Western Art, Allied Artists of America, Northwest Rendezvous Group and the Society of Animal Artists. Recently he created a larger-than-life set of African lions at the Oklahoma City Zoo. He lives in Parker, Colorado.
Source:
Buffalo Bill Art Show & Sale, 2003 |
Biography from Trailside Galleries - WY:
|  Gerald Balciar had an early interest in art beginning in grade school. Today, his art is noted for its readily identifiable artistic style, which is grounded in an in-depth knowledge of animals. For reference, he works from his extensive library of wildlife material, which includes photos, magazine clippings, books, and numerous study casts and measurements. He also uses live models as an invaluable aid in his sculptures and receives excellent cooperation from zoologists and wildlife organizations.
Balciar is involved in the creative process of bronze making from beginning to end. He works his original sculpture in wax or clay, and then personally makes his own molds and chases his own waxes. Once the bronze is cast at the foundry, he does the welding and metal chasing and then applies the patina and finishing touches to each bronze.
While doing an 18’ bronze elk in 1982, he devised a point up system that revolutionized the traditional enlargement process. His largest bronze sculpture to date is a 20 foot bronze moose, "Centennial", which was installed in Moosehart, Illinois, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Loyal Order of Moose in 1988. His largest marble carving in an 18 foot, 16,000 pound cougar, "Canyon Princess", which he sculpted for the National Cowboy Hall of Fame. It was installed in June 1995.
Balciar is a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society and a member of the Society of Animal Artists, Allied Artists of America and the Northwest Rendezvous group. He has won several awards, including nine from the National Sculpture Society, and is listed in "Who’s Who In American Art", "Who’s Who In The West", and the "Dictionary of American Sculptors".
He has taught at the Scottsdale Artists’ School, the Art Students League of Denver, the Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, and the Hall of Fame’s adult art education program.
His most prestigious honor is the Prix de West Award, received in 1985 from the National Academy of Western Art at the Hall, for his marble sculpture of two otters, River Companions.In NAWA exhibitions, he won Gold and Silver Medals as well as the Buyers’ Choice Award. In 1996, he received the Domenico Facci Memorial Award from Allied Artists of America, and in 1999, received the William E. Weiss Purchase Award at the Buffalo Bill Historical Center Art Show in Cody, Wyoming.
Gerald Balciar’s work was selected for the 2002 Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage show. |
Biography from Altermann Galleries and Auctioneers, I:
| Gerald Balciar had an early interest in art, beginning in grade school. His fascination with animals dates to his childhood, growing up in rural Wisconsin amidst the dairy farms and north woods. Both art and animals have always been a part of Balciar’s life.
His art is noted for its readily identifiable artistic style, which is grounded in an in-depth knowledge of animals. For reference, he works from his extensive library of wildlife material, which includes photos, magazine clippings, books and numerous study casts and measurements. Balciar also uses live models as an invaluable aid in his sculptures and receives excellent cooperation from zoologists and wildlife organizations.
A consummate artist, Balciar is involved in the creative process of sculpture from beginning to end. He works his original sculpture in wax or clay and then personally makes his own molds and chases his own waxes. Once the bronze is cast at the foundry, he does the welding and metal chasing and then applies the patina and finishing touches to each bronze.
While doing a 14 foot bronze elk in 1982, Balciar devised a point up system that revolutionized the traditional enlargement process. His largest bronze sculpture to date is a 16 foot bronze moose, Centennial, which was installed in Mooseheart, Illinois, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Loyal Order of Moose. In contrast, his largest marble carving, created from a single piece of gleaming white marble, is a 16,000-pound cougar, Canyon Princess, installed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in June 1995.
Balciar is a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, and holds memberships in the National Academy of Western Art, the Society of Animal Artists, the Allied Artists of America and the Northwest Rendezvous Group. He and his wife, Bonnie, reside in Parker, Colorado. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
Reference: AskArt.com, Art of the West magazine, Southwest Art magazine
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Biography from Whistle Pik Galleries:
| Gerald Balciar had an early interest in art, beginning in grade school. His fascination with animals dates to his childhood, growing up in rural Wisconsin amidst the dairy farms and north woods. Both art and animals have always been a part of Balciar’s life.
His art is noted for its readily identifiable artistic style, which is grounded in an in-depth knowledge of animals. For reference, he works from his extensive library of wildlife material, which includes photos, magazine clippings, books and numerous study casts and measurements. Balciar also uses live models as an invaluable aid in his sculptures and receives excellent cooperation from zoologists and wildlife organizations.
A consummate artist, Balciar is involved in the creative process of sculpture from beginning to end. He works his original sculpture in wax or clay and then personally makes his own molds and chases his own waxes. Once the bronze is cast at the foundry, he does the welding and metal chasing and then applies the patina and finishing touches to each bronze.
While doing a 14 foot bronze elk in 1982, Balciar devised a point up system that revolutionized the traditional enlargement process. His largest bronze sculpture to date is a 16 foot bronze moose, Centennial, which was installed in Mooseheart, Illinois, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Loyal Order of Moose. In contrast, his largest marble carving, created from a single piece of gleaming white marble, is a 16,000-pound cougar, Canyon Princess, installed at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in June 1995.
Balciar is a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society, and holds memberships in the National Academy of Western Art, the Society of Animal Artists, the Allied Artists of America and the Northwest Rendezvous Group. He and his wife, Bonnie, reside in Parker, Colorado. They have three grown children and two grandchildren.
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