Kamil Kubik, an impressionist painter, was born in 1930 in Olomouc, Czechoslovakia, at a time of great uncertainty. In 1948, he was forced to flee his homeland to escape the Nazis and spent several years in a refugee camp. Kubik then traveled by boat to Australia, where he met his wife. Together, they traveled the world for her career before settling in the United States. Kubik then established, on Madison Avenue in Manhattan, the St. James Gallery.

Kubik’s artistic reputation rests on his cityscape and floral paintings. This earned him worldwide admiration. His depictions of Central Park, Prague, London, and the White House, as well as nearly every state in the US, were particularly noteworthy. Kubik was even appointed as the official White House artist and designed the official Christmas cards in 1991 and 1992.

Kubik’s talent was recognized when he was commissioned to create artwork for the US Tennis and Golf Championships. He even produced a series of paintings inspired by the New York Stock Exchange. In 1997, Kamil Kubik was honored with the Ellis Island Medal of Honor by the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations. Kubik’s painting of Carnegie Hall became the first American poster exhibited in China.

Although Kamil Kubik was not interested in commercial gain, his art graced the covers of magazines such as M.D. Magazine, Reader’s Digest, and Worth Avenue Magazine. He also authored a book called “CityScapes” for the Grumbacher Company.

Kubik was a humble man who allowed passersby to contribute a few brushstrokes to his cityscapes, providing the “ultimate local touch.” Sadly, Kubik’s life changed dramatically when he suffered a stroke in 2004, leaving him bedridden. On August 3rd, 2011, he passed away in Union City, New Jersey, USA. Royalty and political figures still hold Kubik’s art in high regard despite his passing.