Gerald Lubensky Obituary

Gerald E. "Jerry" Lubensky, a painter of international renown and a beloved professor whose career at the University of Kansas shaped generations of young artists, died May 6 in San Diego. He was 79.

The son of U.S. State Department officer Earl Lubensky, Jerry was born on May 30, 1945, in Charleston, South Carolina, and spent his formative years living around the world-in Germany, Spain, the Philippines, and Ecuador. That international upbringing would become a defining influence on his artistic vision and teaching philosophy.

After graduating from high school in Colegio Americano in Quito, Ecuador, he earned a B.F.A. in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design in 1967 and an M.A. in painting from the University of New Mexico in 1969. That same year, he started teaching at the University of Kansas, where he was named full professor in 1983. He taught at KU for 44 years before retiring as Professor Emeritus in 2014. In the classroom, Jerry was known for his warmth, insight, and unwavering support of his students.

Lubensky was a non-objective abstractionist who painted vivid, layered compositions that challenged perception. His work was exhibited widely in the U.S. and abroad, with solo shows at prestigious galleries including André Zarre in New York; R.H. Love Contemporary in Chicago; Foster Goldstrom in San Francisco and Dallas; Molly Barnes in Los Angeles; Ana Sklar in Miami; and international venues in Spain, Colombia, Mexico, Australia, and Ecuador. His work is held in major public collections, including the Spencer Museum of Art, the Denver Museum of Fine Arts, the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo in Bogotá, the Sala Nacional de El Salvador, and the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo José María Moreno Galván in Seville, Spain.

In addition to his accomplishments as an artist and teacher, Jerry was a lifelong flamenco enthusiast. Nearly every summer, he traveled to La Puebla de Cazalla in southern Spain to participate in flamenco workshops-immersing himself in the rhythms, history, and passion of the Andalusian art form that energized his creative spirit. He received the inaugural "Embajadores de la Reunión de Cante Jondo" honor at the town's renowned flamenco festival in 2024.

In his final decade, Jerry moved to San Diego to be closer to his children and his grandchildren . He continued to paint, travel, and reflect-never far from a canvas, a strong opinion, or a well-worn passport.

He is survived by his children, Dean Lubensky and Anita Hettena, whom he shared with his RISD classmate Linda Lubensky; his four grandchildren; and a wide circle of former students, colleagues, and friends who were touched by his artistry, mentorship, and generosity of spirit.