Before arriving in the US on a Fulbright and IIE Grant in 1957;  Gaudnek studied at the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich with research in Italy, Greece, France, Switzerland, England, and Scotland. He founded 3 galleries for artists in Ingolstadt and Munich.

Before coming to the University of Central Florida in 1970, Gaudnek taught painting and art history at UCLA, NYU and C.W. Post College in Brookville, NY. He is the founder of the C.W. Post College Fine Arts Museum.

His honors include University of Central Florida Presidents Award (1999), UCF Distinguished Researcher of the Year Award (1990),

Professor Phi Kappa Phi (1991), Sudetendeutscher  Kulturpreisträger  Bildende Kunst und Architektur Germany (1994), UCF Professional Excellence  PEP Program Award (1997, UCF Teaching  Incentive TIP Award (1995 and 2005).

His exhibitions include participation in more than 200 solo and group exhibitions, Labyrinth installations, Happenings, Performances Art in Germany, Italy, England, Spain, Columbia, Brazil, Japan, and US (with museum exhibits in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sao Paulo and Munich). His works are in numerous public and private collections (i.e the Hirshorn Museum. Washington, the Dorsky Museum, SUNY, New Paltz,)  and have been acquired for Schools, Hospitals, Churches, Banks, Libraries, Museums and private homes.

Prof. Gaudneks latest highlights: Received 3rd Price in Video Art, Florence International Biannual Exhibit, 2015. Awarded International Prize LEONARDO DA VINCI, Florence and International Prize GIULIO CESARE, Rome, 2018. Participated in Tokyo Intl. Art Fair 2016. Solo exhibit Stadttheater Ingolstadt 2016 and yearly solo exhibits in Altomünster, Germany.

He bases his teaching philosophy on the concept of the artist as an educator with an accent on the individual in a constantly changing society.