About The Art

GARY T. ERBE (1944) is a self-taught trompe l’oeil (French for “fool the eye”) painter from Union City, New Jersey who currently resides in Nutley, NJ. Erbe conceived a way to create paintings that are more contemporary and a departure from traditional 19th Century trompe l’oeil masters. By freeing objects from their natural surroundings with the illusion of levitation and through the juxtaposition of objects that in reality had no relationship, he could create thought-provoking paintings. In 1970 Erbe coined the term “Levitational Realism” and decided to pursue his art full time and began to actively exhibit his work. He has less of an interest in fooling the eye in favor of stimulating the mind.

“I believe I have found ways of circumventing the so-called rules in trompe l’oeil in favor of originality, inventiveness and creativity. Integrating modern principles into my work is very challenging and exciting.” -Gary Erbe

 

Dr. Louis Zona, Emeritus Director at The Butler Institute of American Art, stated that, “Gary Erbe is an American master of contemporary trompe l’oeil painters. This exhibition of 50 pieces on display at the Butler, one can see the range of Erbe’s talent. The Butler is indeed proud.”

 

 

“Mr. Erbe’s work will leave our museum visitors in awe of the masterful techniques he has perfected over the years,” added Larry W. Jones, Interim Director BIAA. “Plus, with the Butler’s deep historic resources visitors can also compare works from 19th Century tromp l’oeil painters like John Frederick Peto, William Michael Harnett, and George Cope from the Museum’s permanent collection.”

After the Butler Institute’s exhibition, it will travel to the Reading Public Museum in Pennsylvania, May 23-August 2, 2026, and then to Fort Wayne Museum of Art in Indiana, August 22-October 25, 2026. An 88-page catalogue accompanies this exhibition.

Gary Erbe has been awarded an unprecedented 6 Gold Medals at The Allied Artists of America, Inc. Annual Exhibitions held at The National Arts Club, NYC. He also received the Medal for Lifetime Achievement in American Art from The Butler Institute of American Art among many others.

Erbe has exhibited extensively since 1970 with solo exhibitions at Museums and galleries throughout America, Asia and Europe and is in the permanent collection of many institutions including The Phillips Collection, DC; Philadelphia Museum of Art, PA; Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, PA; Terra Foundation for American Art, IL; Whitney Western Art Museum, WY; Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, AK; Colby College Museum of Art, ME; Brandywine River Museum, PA; The Buffalo Bill Center of the West – Whitney Western Art Museum, WY; The Brinton Museum, WY; Montclair Art Museum, NJ; The Heckscher Museum of Art, NY; Phoenix Art Museum, AZ; and The Butler Institute of American Art, OH amongst others. He has also been a part of many group exhibitions throughout the United States.

The Butler Institute of American Art published a 300-page hardcover book on Erbe’s art and life titled “Footprints: The Art and Life of Gary Erbe” (2017) which is available in the museum’s gift shop.

CATEGORIES: Exhibition

DATE: January 25, 2026 - March 29, 2026

LOCATION: MacIntosh Gallery, second level.