Bert Seabourn’s paintings have been exhibited extensively in the United States as well as throughout the world, including countries such as England, Germany, France, Russia, Taiwan, Singapore, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, and Ecuador. His work is featured in public collections such as: The Vatican Museum of Religious Art in the State of Vatican City, Italy; The American Embassy in London, England; The National Palace Museum of Taiwan; The Smithsonian Museum of Natural History in Washington, D.C.; the President Ford Library Collection in Battle Creek, Michigan; the President George and Barbara Bush Collection; The National Cowboy Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City; and the Oklahoma Museum of Art in Oklahoma City. 

Seabourn was born in Texas in 1931 and his first piece of art was published by Kingfisher Features Syndicate in 1946, when he was in the eighth grade in Purcell, OK.  In 1950, he graduated from Purcell High School and went on to marry his high school sweetheart, Bonnie Jo Tompkins, in July of that same year.  In 1951, he joined the U.S. Navy and served as an artist until 1955, when he moved to Oklahoma City.  He enrolled as an art major in night classes at Oklahoma City University during the fall of that year and went on to graduate in 1963. In 1964, he completed a correspondence course in Commercial Art and Illustration from the Famous Artist Schools of Westport, CT.  In 1978, after 23 years as first an artist and then Art Director at OG&E, he left the company to pursue a career as a fine art painter.

Seabourn, the only artist that has been juried in to the annual Oklahoma City Festival of the Arts since its inception, has been featured in such publications as Who’s Who in American Art, Art Voices South, Southwest Art, and International Fine Art Collector.  His paintings have also been used on the covers of many fiction and non-fiction books. In 1975, he was bestowed the title of “Master Artist” by the Five Civilized Museum in Muskogee, Oklahoma.  In 1981, he was presented the “Governor’s Art Award” by Governor George Nigh at the Oklahoma State Capitol building in Oklahoma City.  In 1997, he received one of the highest honors of his career when he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters Degree by Dr. Gerald Walker at Oklahoma City University.