David Thauberger, an artist who immortalized countless Saskatchewan landmarks in his paintings over several decades, has died. Thauberger’s death was announced Monday. In a tribute, Premier Scott Moe called Thauberger a “true original” and a “remarkable talent” who “helped capture the heart and spirit” of Saskatchewan. “Through his iconic work, he celebrated the people, places and communities that make Saskatchewan so special,” Moe wrote. Born in Holdfast, Sask. in 1948, Thauberger studied ceramics at the University of Saskatchewan’s Regina Campus, earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1971 and his Master of Arts in 1972 from California State University (Sacramento). He earned his Master of Fine Arts while studying at the University of Montana in Missoula in 1973. Sculptors David Gilhooly and Rudy Autio served as early inspirations during Thauberger’s education. Thauberger’s paintings often depicted Saskatchewan cultural landmarks. Many prints included prairie horizons marked by towering grain elevators — a cornerstone of the sights of rural Saskatchewan. In 2015, the Mackenzie Art Gallery exhibited a retrospective titled “David Thauberger: Road Trips and Other Diversions” featuring paintings, prints and ceramic works produced over the course of more than 50 years. SK Arts currently houses 45 of Thauberger’s works in its collection. His works can also be found in the collections of the Art Gallery of Hamilton, Art Gallery of Ontario, Winnipeg Art Gallery, the Canada Council Art Bank and the National Gallery of Canada. Thauberger’s contributions to the arts led to a long list of honours including the Order of Canada and the Saskatchewan Order of Merit.
