Portraits & Figures

Character Studies

Arthur Gebhardt’s portraits and figure studies demonstrate his fascination with people as living subjects caught in moments of humor, reflection, vulnerability, and presence. From costumed clowns and carnival performers to family members, café-goers, and self-portraits, his canvases show his skill and interest in people—real and imagined.

A close friend revealed:

“A lot of his paintings told the story of his life. He often went back and revisited moments in his life and people that were important to him. An example is the painting of his uncle sitting in a chair, which is one of my favorites. It might seem simple or unremarkable, but his uncle was an alcoholic and had all these problems in his life and he told me that’s why he did the portrait. Later, he seemed to be visiting his wife’s story and their story together with all their family connections, which were spiritual because he was showing someone who has passed and how their history sticks with us.”

His clown paintings are among the most striking, recurring throughout his career. His daughter Ellen recalls these as “some of his best paintings,” noting how the figures with their oversized costumes, painted faces, and stooped postures portrayed hidden melancholy. 

Sad clown in old-fashioned costume sitting on chair with crossed legs and hands on knee
Jester sitting on stool with small boy at his feet holding a ball, with a destitute dog in the background

Portraiture of Personal Record

His portraits of family members carried equal weight. Daughter Sarah remembered how he painted their mother multiple times across the years.

“My dad painted my mom in three stages of her life on one canvas. First, she is standing as a little girl, probably in her first communion white dress. Then another version of her is with grayish hair, and third is her hunched over trying to walk up the stairs with a cane. My dad painted that after my mom died. It’s huge, amazing, and a very moving piece. It’s so personal to me.”

Self-portraiture was another thread, especially in later years. Some are straightforward likenesses, others experiment with color and abstraction. 

His son-in-law remarked, “One of my favorite paintings is one of his self-portraits. He’s holding his head and he said to me he was thinking, ‘I can’t believe I have seven children!’” 

His sister remembers a painting titled “That Man at the Bar.” “It’s his self-portrait with all those women.” Many family members were familiar with his hint of humor hidden in these scenarios. His son reminds us that, “if you could make him laugh, that was a serious gold star!”

Art’s portraits and figures unfold as a human theater with clowns, companions, family, strangers, and selves with empathy and intensity.

Meet the Artist
Jester sitting on stool with small boy at his feet holding a ball, with a destitute dog in the background

Portraits & Figures

Portraiture is more than likeness; it is a search for character, emotion, and identity. It is universal and intimate; it captures both another and ourselves.

Portrait of Andy Warhol, painted by Arthur Gebhardt, with wide eyes and asked bowtie
Portrait of a man sitting on a chair with his chin in his hand sadly looking at floor
Painting of Uncle August, a middle-aged man with a mustache and round glasses sitting in a chair with his legs crossed at the ankles and hands on his belly
Himalayan woman wrapped in blankets in dark with Everest aglow behind her and a red bird on a branch beside her
Woman wearing a kimono sitting in a chair and resting hands in lap
Portrait of woman in red dress sitting in polka dotted chair, looking serenely off into distance, and resting hands in lap
Man wearing white tie tuxedo sitting on chair and playing a cello in an empty theater
Woman in empty theater in the round in a ruffled yellow dress dancing with one arm up and one arched down
Portrait of Katherine Mathie Burns with a white hat standing in front of an ornate wall and holding a bouquet of flowers
Pharaoh Head
Sad clown in old-fashioned costume sitting on chair with crossed legs and hands on knee
Jester sitting on stool with small boy at his feet holding a ball, with a destitute dog in the background
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“A lot of his paintings told the story of his life. He often went back and revisited moments in his life and people that were important to him.”

Featured Artwork

Lady in Red

Oil on board

Gebhardt often painted portraits of imagined persons. In this saturated red and raspberry portrait, an unknown woman meets the viewer’s gaze. This work shows his constant interest in color and the flattened space and restrained palette echo early modern influences from Modigliani to Gauguin.

Explore the Full Collection
Woman wearing a kimono sitting in a chair and resting hands in lap