Lucy grew up in southeastern Missouri's "Bootheel" where, he says, "History and English were always my two worst subjects. As someone who intended to draw pictures for the rest of his life, it was clear to me that studying either of those would be nothing but wasted time. Well, how wrong I was." 

Gary graduated from Southeast Missouri State University in Cape Girardeau, Missouri in 1971 with a degree in Art Education. After graduation, he immediately began his career as an elementary art instructor in the Washington, Missouri School District. However, after only one year, he acknowledged that his real desire was to become a full-time, professional artist.

Gary spent 12 years as an award-winning wildlife artist where he placed second in the 1973 Federal Duck Stamp Competition, first in the 1982 Missouri Duck Stamp Competition, and was commissioned by the West Plains Bank of West Plains, Missouri to complete a large mural entitled "Missouri Wildlife" followed by "Missouri Wildlife II" commissioned by the citizens of Washington, Missouri with a grant from the Missouri Arts Council for their new library. His success continued as Southwestern Bell Telephone Company commissioned him to design their 1981 and 1985 phone book covers; respectively, "Missouri Trilogy" and "Songbirds of Missouri". The "Missouri Trilogy" was purchased by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company and given to the State of Missouri; it hangs in the Governor's office in Jefferson City.
By 1985, he was ready to move on, and welcomed the advice of a close friend who told him: "Gary, I like your work with wildlife ... but you must begin to deal with the human figure in some capacity." The direction of his future suggested itself as he worked in his studio overlooking the Missouri River ... and became even more apparent as his interest expanded in the river and frontier themes of Bingham and Benton. The change in the direction of his work to historic interpretation of the inland waterways of North America has widened his popularity and public awareness ... his artwork is not only great art but art with a historical message. Today, the 51 -year old artist's continuing output of major pieces is viewed by many as the unchallenged American benchmark of work that deals with our nation's rivers, the first highways West. Inland Waterways Limited Edition Prints. In 1991 and 1997, Lucy's works have been on exhibit at the Old Court House in St. Louis which has attracted an average of 35,000 visitors at each showing, and was featured on PBS-TV's, Jim Lehrer NewsHour with more than eight million viewers nationwide. To end 1999, Gary was invited by The State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia, to show his works... in the same hall with works of George Caleb Bingham and Thomas Hart Benton. Gary said, "... it was a great honor to have your work in the same museum with two of the greatest Missouri artists."
 

As the Millennium begins, Gary continues to receive awards and recognitions relating to his "Inland Waterways" series. In September 2004, in conjunction with the 200th anniversary celebration of the Louisiana Purchase, Gary revisited the historic Old Courthouse in St. Louis with a major exhibit entitled "Inland Waterways. The Highways of Our Heritage." For this exhibit, Gary collected many of his works from the past 20 years and displayed them under the massive rotunda of this beautiful, historic structure built during the same era as his paintings portray ... when the rivers were our country's major mode of transportation.

Gary continues to commit himself from six to eight hours every day at his easel, and allows nothing to intervene. With Snookie (the artist's "best friend" and favorite four-legged model) by his side, he literally loses himself in his work. "I'm one of those lucky guys," he says. I have my good health and a God-given talent that lets me do just what I want to do in this world ... paint."

Gary resides in Washington, Missouri with his wife, Sandy. Mrs. Lucy is the manager of their gallery located in Washington, Missouri.

1972  Taught elementary art in Washington, Missouri School District. Resigned from teaching at the end of the school year to become a professional artist.

1973  Honored with second place in the Federal Duck Stamp Competition. Also received first place for a watercolor painting from the St. Louis Art Association.

1973  Awarded the Best of Show Award at the National Wildlife Art Show in Kansas City.

1977  Commissioned by the West Plains Bank in West Plains, Missouri to complete a 7'6" x 22' mural entitled "Missouri Wildlife." The mural depicts 22 species of wildlife and six species of wildflowers indigenous to South Central Missouri.

1977  Placed third in the National Wild Turkey Federation stamp design competition with his rendering of "Merriam's Wild Turkeys."

1979  Received a grant from the Missouri Arts Council to complete a 5'6" x 18' mural for the City of Washington, Missouri entitled "Missouri Wildlife II".

1980  Commissioned by Southwestern Bell to complete an oil painting for the 1981 state-wide phone book cover. The painting entitled "Missouri Trilogy" depicts the state bird, tree and flower. The original painting was donated to the State of Missouri and hangs in the Governor's Office in Jefferson City.

1980  Opened the Gary R. Lucy Gallery in historic downtown Washington, Missouri.

1982  His painting of the pair of Bufflehead Ducks took first place in the Missouri Duck Stamp Competition.

1984  Commissioned by Southwestern Bell Telephone Company to design a second phone book cover. This painting titled "Songbirds of Missouri" was featured on the 1985-86 covers across the state of Missouri.

1986  Moved away from the wildlife theme and began to focus on the subject of historic interpretation.
 

1991  Museum exhibition held at the Old Courthouse in Downtown St. Louis. This special showing entitled "Inland Waterways: The Way West" was co-sponsored by the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and the Jefferson National Expansion Historical Association. This five month exhibition was attend by over 35,000 people.

1992  Special exhibition held at the University Museum of Southeast Missouri State University.

1993  Received the Alumni Merit Award from Southeast Missouri State University in recognition of accomplishments in the field of art.

1993  Participated in a special showing at the Arrow Rock State Historic Site in Arrow Rock, Missouri.

1997  In celebration of twenty-five years as a professional artist, the second installment of "Inland Waterways: The Way West" opened at the Old Courthouse in Downtown St. Louis, a four-month exhibit.

1998  Invited to exhibit his works at The State Historical Society of Missouri at Columbia, Missouri for three months.

2004  Received the St. Louis Regional Commerce and Growth Association's "Sold on St. Louis Individual Acheivement Award".

2004  Presented with the Southeast Salutes Alumni Award from Southeast Missouri State University.

2004  Received the "Spotlight Award" at the 2004 Missouri Governor's Conference on Tourism in Kansas City.

2004  Showing at the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis, Missouri entitled "Inland Waterways: The Highways of our Heritage." Click to sample the show and view opening night highlights. 

2004  Commissioned by Southeast Missouri State University to complete a 9'6" x 27' mural for the new River Campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri which will house a new School of Visual and Performing Arts. The thirty-eight million dollar facility will be the new home for the University's departments of art, music, and theatre and dance.