He received a degree in Painting from the Kansas City Art Institute in 1989, where he was also a Yale scholar. In the 1990s he collaborated on six public mural projects, receiving numerous awards. Ross continues to peruse his studio art and shows regularly in the region. He has also served as a juror for many fine art awards, including the Trawick Prize and the National Sculpture Residency Prize at Evergreen House. As Director of the Exhibitions Department at MICA, Gerald manages a diverse, energetic and vital program - installing over 100 exhibitions per year, campus-wide. Since 2003, he has curated exhibitions, established public programming and has worked with the community to bring a large variety of local, national, and international groups and artists to MICA.