Gerald Balciar had an early interest in art, beginning in grade school. His fascination with animals dates to his childhood, growing up in rural Wisconsin amidst the dairy farms and north woods. Both art and animals have always been a part of Balciar's life.

His art is noted for its readily identifiable artistic style, which is grounded in an in-depth knowledge of animals. He portrays the gentle side of nature in his marble and bronze sculptures. For reference, he works from his extensive library of wildlife material, which includes photos, magazine clippings, books and numerous study casts and measurements. He also uses live models as an invaluable aid in his sculptures and receives excellent cooperation from zoologists and wildlife organizations.

A consummate artist, Balciar is involved in the creative process of sculpture from beginning to end. He works his original sculpture in wax or clay and then personally makes his own molds and chases his own waxes. Once the bronze is cast at the foundry, he does the welding and metal chasing and then applies the patina and finishing touches to each bronze.

While doing an 18' bronze elk in 1982, he devised a point up system that revolutionized the traditional enlargement process. His largest bronze sculpture to date is a 20' bronze moose, Centennial, which was installed in 1988 in Mooseheart, Illinois, to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Loyal Order of Moose.

His largest marble carving, created from a single piece of gleaming white marble, is an 18', 16,000-pound cougar, Canyon Princess, installed at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in June 1995.

He is a Fellow of the National Sculpture Society and a member of the Society of Animal Artists, Allied Artists of America and the Northwest Rendezvous Group. He has won numerous awards, including nine from the National Sculpture Society. He is listed in Who's Who in American Art, Who's Who in the West and the Dictionary of American Sculptors. He has taught at the Scottsdale Artists School in Arizona, Art Students League of Denver and Loveland Academy of Fine Arts, Colorado