WHO IS KOUBA?
"DEAN OF WILDLIFE ART"
Les Kouba is a world-famous wildlife painter, best known for some of the most popular Duck Stamps. His painting and watercolor images popularized wildlife in the early 70s and remain a household name for wildlife and nature art aficionados.
A CELEBRITY MINNESOTAN
He has been referred to as “The Dean of Minnesota’s Wildlife Artists, “The Norman Rockwell of Wildlife Art” and “The Mickey Mantle of Wildlife Art”.
LOOK FOR 13!
The Stewardship Committee oversees the Minnesota Valley Chapter’s property– the land and the house. It is our goal to make the house and property a reflection of our values and a model of green living.
A MEMBER OF OUR CHAPTER
Les Kouba was an early member of the Izaak Walton League. He was a member of the Minneapolis Chapter which later renamed itself the Minnesota Valley Chapter. His signed and numbered prints and even some originals have adorned the walls of the chapter house for decades. Most were donated by members to be cherished by the Chapter for years to come.
Here is a short article about the painting “Canoe Country” [Link]
OUR SPECIAL PRINT
In 1973 Les painted a special print just for the Chapter. It is called “Visitors We All Love To See.” One thousand prints were made. We hand them out to new members who join at special events. (Like a Kouba Gallery opening)
ESTABLISHING THE GALLERY
In November of 2022, the Board of Directors voted to establish the Kouba Gallery. We transformed the “living room” which we used as a meeting room into a Gallery to showcase new visions of wildlife and nature art. We now hold meetings in a Art Gallery surrounded by amazing art.
A SIGNATURE
We designed the Kouba Gallery logo from the distinctive Kouba signature which is on all of his work.
HONORING THE TRADITION
We honor his tradition as we look forward to celebrating new artists who bring their own perspective and passion to the excellent and diverse local ecology.
