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 2009 PASEO ARTS ASSOCIATION
OKLAHOMA ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARDS |
John Seward
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
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 John Seward has contributed to the appreciation, sharing, and support of the arts for his whole life as an artist, sponsor, art collector, and volunteer leader. John is an Oklahoma City native who graduated from Putnam City High School. He attended Oklahoma City University, where he majored in psychology. He co-founded Hobby Lobby Stores and ran them for twenty two years. Before selling his part of the stores in 1994, John served artists by offering quality artistic supplies.
John’s career as an artist began in high school with courses and competitions, including “Young Talent in Oklahoma”. He began seriously painting in watercolor in 1970, which resulted in a series of botanical and still life paintings exhibited at local art events including the OKC Festival of the Arts from 1976 through 1982. A growing business refocused his art in the 1970s and 1980s to hand rendered advertisements for Hobby Lobby. Although he continued to paint occasionally, it was not until he retired that his interest in painting and photography could be pursued with a full time commitment. He has exhibited major bodies of work in exhibitions in Los Angeles, Oklahoma City, Lawton, Ardmore, and Norman.
 John’s support of local arts organizations as a board member and (usually anonymous) donor is renowned. John has served on the Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition board since 1999, leading the Exhibitions Committee. He has also served on the Oklahoma Arts Institute board since 1989, helping with the photography and visual arts program, on the OKC Mayor appointed Arts Commission since 1999, the Allied Arts board, and the Ballet Oklahoma board.
 He recently dedicated the last two years of his time as Interim Executive and Artistic Director of Untitled Artspace. Throughout his life, John has given freely of his time, money, intellect, and creativity to the betterment of the arts and artists.<
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