After three decades, sculptor Micheal Aurbach is returning to Eastern to show his new exhibit titled, “Three Decades After Eastern.”

Aurbach was an art faculty member at Eastern from 1984 to 1986. After he left, he started working at Vanderbuilt University where he currently works.

The exhibit opens with a lecture from Aurbach at 5 p.m. Thursday in the Tarble Arts Center main galleries.

The exhibit will continue through Feb. 18, and is open to the public with free admission.

The exhibit comes from the “Secrecy Series” and the “Critical Theory Series,” both groups of artwork created by Aurbach after leaving Eastern in 1986.

His work addresses issues related to death, identity and the struggle of socially deprived groups. His latest work symbolizes secrecy and various forms of scholarship.

Aurbach’s has taught sculpture since 1986 at Vanderbuilt University, where he formed a distinguished career as both artist and educator.

His sculptures have been shown in more than 80 solo exhibitions at varied venues.

He was the recipient of many grants and awards from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Southern Arts Federation, the Tennessee Arts Commission, Art Matters Inc the Puffin Foundation Ltd. and Vanderbilt University.

Aurbach is a past president of the College Art Association and a former board member of the Southeastern College Art Conference. He was honored with the Southeastern College Art Conference Award for Outstanding Artistic Achievement in 1995.

Aurbach has presented and published many papers related to the visual arts and higher education, including over 250 guest lectures and presentations.

In 2012, Aurbach’s sculpture was the featured story and cover image for an issue of World Sculpture News magazine.

Stephanie White can be reached at 581-2812 or at sewhite2@eiu.edu