David Thauberger was born in Holdfast, Saskatchewan. He studied ceramics at the University of Saskatchewan, where he earned his Bachelor of Fine Art in 1971. He received his Master of Arts in 1972 from California State University (Sacramento) and later studied at the University of Montana in Missoula, earning his Master of Fine Arts in 1973. David Thauberger is known for his paintings of vernacular architecture and the cultural icons of Saskatchewan; he creates colourful portraits of prairie buildings—legion halls, false fronted shops, and inner-city bungalows.

His early studies at the University of Saskatchewan under the mentorship of ceramicist and sculptor David Gilhooly inspired Thauberger to create work that was rooted in his own life experiences and the geographical region in which he lived. Together with his paintings of popular culture and images of tourist meccas far and wide, his paintings are articulate debates involving art, culture, and how we view the world. Thauberger’s pictures transcend regionalism while simultaneously capturing the heart of what it means to be from Saskatchewan.

Thauberger's achievements were recognized when he was named as a Member of the Order of Canada, cited for his contributions to "the promotion and preservation of Canadian heritage and folk art in the province of Saskatchewan". The 2015 exhibition David Thauberger: Road Trips & Other Diversions, co-produced by the Mendel Art Gallery and the MacKenzie Art Gallery, provided the first comprehensive overview of Thauberger’s remarkable career. The exhibition brought together some paintings, prints, and ceramic works produced from 1971 to 2009.