BIOGRAPHY
A native of New Orleans, Louisiana, George Dunbar graduated from Temple University’s Tyler School of Art in 1953 and went on to study at the Grande Chaumiere in Paris, France. For most of his life, George Dunbar lived and maintained a studio on Bayou Bonfouca outside of Slidell, Louisiana.
Since his first exhibition in Philadelphia in 1953, Dunbar’s artwork has been displayed in museums and galleries around the world. He was a founding member of the ground-breaking Orleans Gallery and was later represented locally by Galerie Simmone Stern and Heriard-Cimino Gallery before joining Callan Contemporary. His exhibition history includes solo shows at the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Hilliard Art Museum, and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art to name a few. His work has been acquired by the Whitney Museum of American Art, the British Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the New Orleans Museum of Art.
Dunbar received the Governor's Lifetime Achievement Award in 2008 for his contributions to art and culture in Louisiana. He was also awarded the Delgado Society's Distinguished Art Award by the New Orleans Museum of Art in 2001. In 2022, he was honored by the Ogden Museum of Southern Art with the Opus Lifetime Achievement Award. He taught at 331 Art School in New Orleans and was artist in residence at both Isidore Newman School and Tulane University.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023 Paquet, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2022 Mining the Surface, Callan Contemporary, New orleans, LA
2021 Torregano, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2020 Meredian, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2019 Moon Gold, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2018 Alluvion, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2017 Palladium, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2016 New Orleans Museum of Art, George Dunbar: Elements of Chance; a retrospective curated by Katie A. Pfohl
2015 Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2014 Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2012 Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2006 Ochi Fine Art, Ketchum, ID
2006 Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2004 Hollis Taggart Galleries, New York, NY
2002 University of the South, Sewanee, TN
2002 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans
, LA
2000 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1997 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1994 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1994 Cultural Arts Center, Slidell, Retrospective
1992 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1991 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1991 Galerie Nadeau, Philadelphia, PA
1989 St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
1988 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1987 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1985 Heath Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1984 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1983 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1980 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans
, LA
1978 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1976 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1974 Heath Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1974 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1973 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1970 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1969 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1968 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1965 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1963 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1960 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1958 Parma Gallery, New York, NY
1957 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1956 Parma Gallery, New York, NY
1955 Dubin-Luch Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1955 331 Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1953 Dubin-Luch Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
2016 New Orleans Museum of Art, George Dunbar: Elements of Chance; a retrospective curated by Katie A. Pfohl
2007 Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA
1997 New Orleans Museum of Art, Mining the Surfaces, a retrospective curated by Edward Lucie-Smith
1992 Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Lake Charles, L
1964 Delgado Museum, (New Orleans Museum of Art) New Orleans
SELECTED JOINT EXHIBITIONS
South American Touring Exhibit
Louisiana World Exposition, New Orleans, LA
Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA
State Capital, Baton Rouge, LA
Pensacola Art Center, Pensacola, FL
Louisiana Art Commission, Baton Rouge, LA
1968 Volkfest, West Germany
Birmingham Museum, Birmingham, AL
Touring Exhibition: Vienna, Austria; Hong Kong, BCC; Manila,
Philippine Island; Sidney, Australia
Denver Museum, Denver, CO
Newcomb Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Bressler Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Sea Island Museum, Sea Island, GA
Riverside Museum, New York City, NY
Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Rose Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
University of New Orleans, Fine Arts Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Delfina Studio Trust, London, Louisiana Story, curated by Edward Lucie Smith
Drawing Invitational, Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1997 St. Tammany Art Assn., Covington, LA
2007 Lord & Taylor, New York City
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Ogden Museum, New Orleans, LA
Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC 1B 3DG
Tulane University, Law School, New Orleans, LA
Alexandria Museum of Art
Arts Council of New Orleans
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
Monroe, Lemann, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Museum of Art
Pan American Life Corporation, New Orleans, LA
Lenfantís Restaurant, New Orleans, LA
City National Bank, Baton Rouge, LA
Jones Walker, et al, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA
Westminister City Properties, The Equitable Center, 1615 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA
Bank of New Orleans
Texaco Center (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
Phelps, Dunbar , Marks, Claverie and Simms, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA First National Bank of Commerce, Covington, LA
L L & E Tower (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
Lykes Steamship Co., New Orleans, LA
Jefferson Guaranty Bank (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
One River Place (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
Commerce Bank (Lobby), St. Louis, MO
Entergy Corp., Washington, D.C.
Rose Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Lambert and Nelson, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA
HONORS (AMONG OTHERS)
1974 Louisiana Bicentennial Exhibition- 2 Purchase Prize
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, Award Winner-Southeastern Texas Exhibition
Rose Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, Purchase Prize
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, First Prize, Painting
Tyler School of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, First Prize, Painting
Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA, Silver Circle Artist 1995 96
New Orleans Museum of Art, Delgado Society Distinguished Art Award, 2001
Bravo Award, City of Slidell, 2001
PUBLICATIONS (AMONG OTHERS)
Ogden Museum of Southern Art Catalog
John Kemp, Review, The Times Picayune, April 21, 1994
Lagniappe, Ted Calas, November 27. 1992
Roger Green, Review, The Times Picayune, January 3, 1991
New Orleans Art Review, Ted Calas, January, 1991
Benson & Hedges, advertisement, 1991
Louisiana Artists Pages, Lew Thomas and Tom Dolan, Contemporary Arts Center, Feb. 25, 1989
Myrna Bridgeman, Review, The Daily Sentry News, October 2, 1988
John Kemp, Review, The Times Picayune, January 8, 1988
Louisiana Life Magazine, January/February 1988
Louisiana Life Magazine, November/December 1987, featured
Roger Green, Review, The Times Picayune, May 22, 1987
New Orleans Magazine, Jason Berry, April 1985, review
Art News, 1984 New Orleans Art Review Magazine, Ted Calas, May 1983
The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1982
Abstraction in Louisiana, Contemporary Arts Center, Ted Calas, October 4-26, 1980
Figaro, November 22, 1978, review
Alberta Collier, Review, The Times Picayune, May 6, 1976
The Atlanta Journal, April 18, 1974
Alberta Collier, Review, The Times Picayune, February 11, 1973
Figaro, February 24, 1973
Vieux Carre Courier, February 1973, Review
Accolade, November 1972, feature
Alberta Collier, Review, The Times Picayune, January 25, 1968
La Revue Moderne, Paris, France, May 1, 1967, feature
Art in America, New Talent USA, Al Lansford, featured, February 1955 Walter Baum, Review, Inquirer, November 1953
Artnews, November 1953
2020 Meredian, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA (upcoming)
2019 Moon Gold, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2018 Alluvion, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2017 Palladium, Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2016 New Orleans Museum of Art, George Dunbar: Elements of Chance; a retrospective curated by Katie A. Pfohl
2015 Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2014 Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2012 Callan Contemporary, New Orleans, LA
2006 Ochi Fine Art, Ketchum, ID
2006 Heriard-Cimino Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2004 Hollis Taggart Galleries, New York, NY
2002 University of the South, Sewanee, TN
2002 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans
, LA
2000 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1997 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1994 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1994 Cultural Arts Center, Slidell, Retrospective
1992 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1991 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1991 Galerie Nadeau, Philadelphia, PA
1989 St. Tammany Art Association, Covington, LA
1988 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1987 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1985 Heath Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1984 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1983 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1980 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans
, LA
1978 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1976 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1974 Heath Gallery, Atlanta, GA
1974 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1973 Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1970 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1969 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1968 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1965 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1963 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1960 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1958 Parma Gallery, New York, NY
1957 Orleans Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1956 Parma Gallery, New York, NY
1955 Dubin-Luch Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
1955 331 Gallery, New Orleans, LA
1953 Dubin-Luch Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS
2016 New Orleans Museum of Art, George Dunbar: Elements of Chance; a retrospective curated by Katie A. Pfohl
2007 Ogden Museum of Southern Art, New Orleans, LA
1997 New Orleans Museum of Art, Mining the Surfaces, a retrospective curated by Edward Lucie-Smith
1992 Imperial Calcasieu Museum, Lake Charles, L
1964 Delgado Museum, (New Orleans Museum of Art) New Orleans
SELECTED JOINT EXHIBITIONS
South American Touring Exhibit
Louisiana World Exposition, New Orleans, LA
Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans, LA
State Capital, Baton Rouge, LA
Pensacola Art Center, Pensacola, FL
Louisiana Art Commission, Baton Rouge, LA
1968 Volkfest, West Germany
Birmingham Museum, Birmingham, AL
Touring Exhibition: Vienna, Austria; Hong Kong, BCC; Manila,
Philippine Island; Sidney, Australia
Denver Museum, Denver, CO
Newcomb Gallery, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA
Bressler Gallery, Milwaukee, WI
Sea Island Museum, Sea Island, GA
Riverside Museum, New York City, NY
Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Rose Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
University of New Orleans, Fine Arts Gallery, New Orleans, LA
Delfina Studio Trust, London, Louisiana Story, curated by Edward Lucie Smith
Drawing Invitational, Galerie Simonne Stern, New Orleans, LA
1997 St. Tammany Art Assn., Covington, LA
2007 Lord & Taylor, New York City
PUBLIC COLLECTIONS
Ogden Museum, New Orleans, LA
Masur Museum of Art, Monroe, LA
The British Museum, Great Russell Street, London WC 1B 3DG
Tulane University, Law School, New Orleans, LA
Alexandria Museum of Art
Arts Council of New Orleans
North Carolina Museum of Art, Raleigh, NC
Monroe, Lemann, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Museum of Art
Pan American Life Corporation, New Orleans, LA
Lenfantís Restaurant, New Orleans, LA
City National Bank, Baton Rouge, LA
Jones Walker, et al, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA
Westminister City Properties, The Equitable Center, 1615 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA
Bank of New Orleans
Texaco Center (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
Phelps, Dunbar , Marks, Claverie and Simms, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA First National Bank of Commerce, Covington, LA
L L & E Tower (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
Lykes Steamship Co., New Orleans, LA
Jefferson Guaranty Bank (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
One River Place (Lobby), New Orleans, LA
Commerce Bank (Lobby), St. Louis, MO
Entergy Corp., Washington, D.C.
Rose Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Lambert and Nelson, Attorneys, New Orleans, LA
HONORS (AMONG OTHERS)
1974 Louisiana Bicentennial Exhibition- 2 Purchase Prize
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, Award Winner-Southeastern Texas Exhibition
Rose Museum, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA, Purchase Prize
New Orleans Museum of Art, New Orleans, LA, First Prize, Painting
Tyler School of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA, First Prize, Painting
Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans, LA, Silver Circle Artist 1995 96
New Orleans Museum of Art, Delgado Society Distinguished Art Award, 2001
Bravo Award, City of Slidell, 2001
PUBLICATIONS (AMONG OTHERS)
Ogden Museum of Southern Art Catalog
John Kemp, Review, The Times Picayune, April 21, 1994
Lagniappe, Ted Calas, November 27. 1992
Roger Green, Review, The Times Picayune, January 3, 1991
New Orleans Art Review, Ted Calas, January, 1991
Benson & Hedges, advertisement, 1991
Louisiana Artists Pages, Lew Thomas and Tom Dolan, Contemporary Arts Center, Feb. 25, 1989
Myrna Bridgeman, Review, The Daily Sentry News, October 2, 1988
John Kemp, Review, The Times Picayune, January 8, 1988
Louisiana Life Magazine, January/February 1988
Louisiana Life Magazine, November/December 1987, featured
Roger Green, Review, The Times Picayune, May 22, 1987
New Orleans Magazine, Jason Berry, April 1985, review
Art News, 1984 New Orleans Art Review Magazine, Ted Calas, May 1983
The Historic New Orleans Collection, 1982
Abstraction in Louisiana, Contemporary Arts Center, Ted Calas, October 4-26, 1980
Figaro, November 22, 1978, review
Alberta Collier, Review, The Times Picayune, May 6, 1976
The Atlanta Journal, April 18, 1974
Alberta Collier, Review, The Times Picayune, February 11, 1973
Figaro, February 24, 1973
Vieux Carre Courier, February 1973, Review
Accolade, November 1972, feature
Alberta Collier, Review, The Times Picayune, January 25, 1968
La Revue Moderne, Paris, France, May 1, 1967, feature
Art in America, New Talent USA, Al Lansford, featured, February 1955 Walter Baum, Review, Inquirer, November 1953
Artnews, November 1953