Who is Gary Welton

Gary Welton was born into a vibrant family of creatives—surrounded by visual artists, singers, and dancers. This rich artistic environment helped shape his lifelong passion for expression through movement and form. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Minnesota, studying under notable figures such as New York School artist and modern art pioneer Peter Busa, celebrated colorist Herman Somberg, and master printmaker Malcolm Meyers.
For over three decades, Welton has exhibited widely, with more than 150 major national and international solo shows. His dynamic paintings—often centered on dance and the human form in motion—have been featured in galleries and museums including the Judith Ewing Morlan Contemporary Art Gallery (Puerto Vallarta), the Minneapolis Woman’s Club, Key West Gallery, Griffin Gallery, Rajputana Palace (India), MC Gallery (Minneapolis), Luther College, the University of St. Thomas, U.S. Bank Stadium, and the Beverly Art Center Museum in Chicago.

In addition to solo exhibitions, Welton has participated in numerous two-person and group shows at prestigious venues such as the Walter Wickiser Gallery (New York City), Mendocino Art Center (California), Art Resource Gallery (St. Paul), Signature Gallery (Las Vegas), Old Town Gallery (Park City), Sargent’s Fine Art (Maui), Editions Galleries (Canada), and Now Gallery (New York City), among many others. His works are part of both private and corporate collections around the world.
Welton’s international reach also includes extensive showings aboard Princess Cruises, Royal Caribbean, Oceania Cruises, MSC, and Celebrity Cruises, where his paintings have traveled the globe as part of curated gallery tours.
In 2016, Welton was commissioned by the Minnesota Vikings and U.S. Bank Stadium to create a monumental series of 64 works capturing the energy, grace, and history of American football. These paintings are now permanently installed in the stadium’s owner and sponsor suites as well as the Medtronic Club, a two-story VIP space.

His accolades are numerous, and his influence continues to grow. His work is part of the U.S. Department of State’s Art in Embassies program, with a permanent installation in the U.S. Embassy in Reykjavik, Iceland. Since 2010, Welton has also led international art lectures and demonstrations, often in collaboration with professional dancers and dance companies. His live-painting sessions, which capture dancers in motion, have been featured in books, television segments, video documentaries, and publications.
At the heart of Gary Welton’s work is a devotion to movement—an effort to freeze fleeting gestures in paint and give rhythm a visual voice.