George Roberts

George Roberts, faculty emeritus of the Department of Art at the University of Idaho, passed away in Moscow, ID on March 11, 2012.

Born in 1927, George grew up in Madison, Wisconsin and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Fondly known as “Bugs,” George was hired as a professor in the Department of Art in 1957 and taught ceramics, sculpture and drawing at the University of Idaho until his retirement in 1992. Not only was he an artist and teacher, he earned a well-deserved reputation as a great storyteller.

He served as department chair from 1963-1977 and on numerous university and community committees including the executive committee of the Idaho Commission for the Arts and Humanities. In addition, George was a Danforth Fellow and a recipient of the University of Idaho Outstanding Teaching Award and Governor’s Award and Medal of Excellence.

While George is most well known for his fluid animals and people created in iron and steel, he also worked in ceramics. He loved to weld iron because he said, “it can cross space like a brushstroke.” His work has appeared in more than 175 exhibitions in the US and abroad, and is represented in private collections in twenty states, Canada and Japan.

Although a prolific artist, George will be remembered most fondly for his great kindness, robust sense of humor, twinkling eyes under massive brows, and the sweet odor of his ever-present pipe. All those who were fortunate enough to know and learn from George will miss his powerful observations, wonderful stories and generous spirit.