TOBEY- Gene Tobey, age 60 of Santa Fe and formerly of Port Aransas and Mason, Texas, passed away Wednesday January 4, 2006 in a hospital in Albuquerque following a long term illness. He was born May 26, 1945 in Utah to James G. & Annabelle Tobey. Mr. Tobey (Tobey) was one of the most well-known of today's southwestern sculptors. He is best known for stylized animal sculptures with his trademark line drawings incised into the surface. Tobey began his career as a sculptor/potter and taught sculpture, pottery and three-dimensional design at Casper Community College in Wyoming and Linn-Benton Community College in Albany, Oregon. In 1985, he and Rebecca married and blended their five children into a family. He began collaborating with Rebecca shortly after their marriage, showing in art galleries across the United States. Together they pioneered large, brightly-colored ceramic animals, and in the mid 90's their work shifted to bronze sculptures with lively, innovative patinas. Now, their work ranges from miniature animals to monumental bronzes like, the fifteen-foot tall bear at Baylor University Law School.
The art world has lost one of its most creative innovators. Gene Tobey's family and friends will miss his humor, great sense of adventure, passion for nature, and his soul. Tobey is survived by his wife of 20 years Rebecca, his children Chris Tobey and wife Angela, Jami Kiendra and husband Mitch, Josh Tobey and girl-friend Josephine Franklin, and his step-daughters Jessica Sequera and husband Hector, and Elizabeth Olmstead and boyfriend Arturo Contreras. He is also survived by his mother Annabelle Tobey, his sister Tami Tobey, his brother Gary Tobey and wife Karen, and Jerry Tobey and wife Susan, along with five grandchildren Christian, Eric, Kayla, Tobey and Delaney.
Tobey will be missed by his representing galleries and thousands of collectors who have been fortunate to acquire artwork sculpted by Gene and Rebecca Tobey. Rebecca Tobey and family will carry on the tradition of creating Tobey's signature designs. Exposures International Gallery has been most fortunate to be their largest representing gallery world-wide, and is the only gallery that will continue to display their entire collection.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Gene Tobey Memorial Art Scholarship Fund in care of Mason National Bank, P.O. Box 1789, Mason, Texas, 76856.
