Wabash College will honor Professor of Art Emeritus Gregory Huebner with a career retrospective that opens at 4 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 6, in the Eric Dean Gallery of the Fine Arts Center.
The exhibition, “Imagining Balance Amid Chaos & Harmony: Gregory Huebner Painting 1974-2024,” covers much of Huebner’s creative efforts as an artist during his time at the College.
Equal measures a prolific artist and an influential teacher, Huebner taught at Wabash from 1974-2011, founding its art department and serving as a mentor to generations of students.
“Greg's impact on Wabash is immense, he started the art department, designed the current facility, mentored numerous Wabash men in the arts, and started the Wabash Permanent Art Collection that we display throughout campus,” said Annie Strader, associate professor of art and department chair. “This retrospective provides the opportunity to get inside Greg’s creative process and see it develop and transform over 50 years. In the exhibition you are able to witness his deep commitment to abstract painting, which provides a unique opportunity to see what sustained creative research can produce in the arts.”
During the LaFollette Lecture he gave to campus in 2008, Huebner described how he became an artist and where he finds inspiration.
“The artist has absolutely no choice in the matter,” Huebner said. “You create and you make art. It is who you are and what you must do. And it begins at a very early age. Growing up I was constantly making things and looking for new materials to create things.”
The exhibition runs through Nov. 16.
Exhibition Statement
Since the early 1970s, Gregory Huebner has been on a quest to capture the essence of human balance through a diverse range of abstract expressionist techniques. His commitment to “making visible the unseen” is evident in his body of work, which skillfully bridges gestural and color field abstraction.
This retrospective exhibition showcases Huebner's remarkable ability to convey vibrant colors, dynamic 
compositions, musical qualities, and a profound connection to the spiritual beliefs of Native American cultures. Through his paintings, Huebner delves into the intricate tapestry of human emotions and the perpetual pursuit of equilibrium in a tumultuous world.
Gregory Huebner is not just an accomplished artist, but he has also left an indelible mark as an educator. With a history of 32 solo exhibitions, over 80 group and juried exhibitions, and numerous accolades, his impact on the art community is undeniable. Moreover, his works can be found in 33 public collections and numerous private collections across the Midwest.
Even after retiring from academia in 2011, Huebner has continued to expand his remarkable oeuvre as the corporate artist-in-residence at Virtusa in Indianapolis. As a professor and founder of Wabash College's Art Department, Huebner played a pivotal role in establishing the Wabash College Collection of Contemporary Art in 1979, solidifying his commitment to nurturing creativity within the liberal arts. Wabash College honored his achievements in 2010 by naming the permanent collection gallery after him to honor his enduring legacy.
This exhibition serves as a tribute to Gregory Huebner's illustrious painting career, offering a transformative experience for those who engage with his work. By visualizing the ecstasies and absurdities of life, his art invites viewers to contemplate their own journey and discover a sense of inner balance amidst a world of beauty and chaos.
This exhibit is curated by:
Jonas Akers ’24
Owen Bennett ’24
Lucas Budler ’25
Conner Grimes ‘26
Min Heo ‘27
Jacob Monninger ‘24
Benjamin Weaver ‘26
A free catalogue featuring essays by alumnus Dr. Hipólito Rafael Chacón, Dr. Elizabeth Morton, and Wabash College student curators will accompany the exhibition, providing further insight into Huebner's profound artistic journey.
Location and Parking
The Fine Arts Center is located at 504 South Grant Avenue, Crawfordsville IN 47933. The Fine Arts Center parking lot is located just south of the center over the railroad tracks, with entrance from Grant Ave. If this lot is full, street parking is available north and east of the center.