Gene Zesch was born and raised in the Texas Hill Country, on a ranch in Mason County. He learned early in life about the problems that plague the modern cowboy -- trying to outguess the weather, attempting to make do with makeshift improvements, struggling to stock land inhabited primarily by rocks and cactus. During his years as an Army pilot, Gene started carving; after many years of self-training, he turned to carving as a profession. Mr. Zesch started working as an artist in 1954 and has made a living out of carving caricature figurines of Texas cowboys and cattlemen. The characteristic expression of the subjects of his work is an eyed rolling resignation. He still lives in Mason County on his family ranch. He hand paints bronze castings of his more notable carvings and sells signed prints of photos of his work. Mr. Zesch's work has been featured in one-man shows at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum (2005), the Institute of Texan Cultures (1988), the Witte Museum (1967), and the Forsyth Gallery at his alma mater, Texas A&M University (1997). His work has also been displayed in special exhibits at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Portrait Gallery (United States) (1993), the Museum of Western Art (2004), and HemisFair '68 (1968).