Bruce Neckar

Bruce Neckar, an American fine artist was born and raised in Noblesville, Indiana. Neckar was an Honors Graduate, and earned his B.A. from Ball State University in 1971. While at Ball State, Neckar was a Graduate Teaching Assistant to Thomas Minkler. Minkler was a well-known artist and printmaker, and served as the Chair of the Art Department and a Master Printer. Minkler served as an inspiration and mentor to Neckar.

Neckar is the recipient of multiple local and national awards, including Best Publication National Design Award from the Kansas Graphic Guild; Special Contribution to Graphic Design, Indiana Society of Architects; Evansville Regional Fine Arts Best of Show; Central States Regional Premium Award, Best Drawing Category; Swope Gallery, National Exhibition, Terre Haute, Indiana, and many more. He also has had several pieces of work purchased for private and museum collections, internationally and has been involved in numerous group, and one-man exhibitions

For many years, he was the Creative Director, Art Director, and Senior Designer for a large print Mid-western print firm. Neckar has also developed and assisted in workshops and lectures. He opened the Neckar Gallery in 1980, located in his hometown, Noblesville, Indiana.

Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, and Jasper Johns are artists that Neckar sights as influences, but his greatest influence is nature itself, and is most often the subject of his work-though he does not consider himself to be a “nature artist.” Neckar has a strong affinity for nature conservancy, and belongs to many nature-oriented organizations. Active in local and national environmental issues, Neckar also serves as the Artist in Residence for Casting For Recovery Indiana, a not-for-profit organization devoted to the physical therapy and support of breast cancer survivors.

A lifelong musician, Neckar is also a founding member of the Poison River Boys, a bluegrass group that has performed all over central Indiana. He lives in Noblesville, Indiana, with his wife, Karen, also an artist, along with his dogs.