Bo Bartlett is a Columbus Georgia-based artist/painter well known for his realistic and astonishing artworks.
His artworks are loved by millions as they reflect the reality of societal experiences, dreams, and struggles. Born and raised in Columbus, Georgia, Bartlett has delivered many stunning paintings and books till now.
Bo Bartlett’s Wiki
| Full Name | James William Bartlett III |
| Birth Date | December 29, 1955 |
| Birth Place | Columbus, Georgia, United States |
| Age | 69 years old |
| Zodiac Sign | Pisces |
| Parents | Opal Bartlett and Bill Bartlett |
| Spouse | Betsy Eby |
| Children | One son (Man Bartlett) |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | University of the Arts, Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania |
| Career | Painter/Artist |
| Net Worth | Approx. 5 million US Dollars |
Bo Bartlett’s Age
Bo was born on December 29, 1955. His hometown, where he was born and brought up, is Columbus, Georgia, United States. He is 69 years old currently.
His Early life and Family Details
Born with the name ‘James William Bartlett III’ to Opal Bartlett and Jill Bartlett, Bo was raised in Columbus alongside his sister Sandy Scarborough.
He was only 18 when he visited Italy to study mural painting with an American expatriate, Ben Long. His interest and passion for painting grew more and more over the years.
Bo Bartlett’s Educational Background
After pursuing mural painting in Florence, Italy, he joined the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts where he got certified in 1980.
Right after that, he attended the University of Pennsylvania to study Liberal Arts. He was a student of Nelson Shanks there.
Then 5 years later, in 1986, Bo graduated from the university with a certificate in Filmmaking.
Bo Barlett’s Wife and Relationships
First Wife
Bo’s first marriage was in 1974. Not many details about this marriage are revealed on the web. However, it is rumored that he had three sons from his first marriage. The one named Eliot, however, died at a young age.
Current Wife Betsy Eby
Then in around 2007, he married artist Betsy Eby on Wheaton Island. They currently live and work together. They often visit Columbus and Georgia. They are said to have a son named Man Bartlett.
Betsy Eby is also an American artist and musician. She is inclined toward abstract paintings and collaborates with her husband Bo to create paintings.
Bo Barlett’s Career
Bo’s career in the artistic world embarked in the 1970s as his conceptual and minimalistic artworks got recognized and embraced. His creations are mostly inspired by great artists like Grant Wood, Edward Hopper, Thomas Eakins, etc.
Bartlett strictly follows the quote “Let your root feed your crown” which encourages him to give his best and maintain originality in his work.
Bartlett is admired for his works as he can portray the casual lifestyles of people with deeper meaning and dreamlike quality that directly strikes at the viewer’s heart. Some of his popular artworks are:
- God, 120 x 168 inches, oil on linen, (1990)
- The Bride, 80 x 100 inches, oil on line (1994)
- Hiroshima, 134 x 204 inches, oil on linen (1994)
- Young Life, 78 x 108 inches, Oil on linen (1994)
- Homecoming, 92 x 100 inches, oil on linen (1995)
- Self Portrait, 31 x 25 inches, oil on panel (1996)
- Lifeboat, 80 x 100 inches, oil on linen (1998)
- The American, 82 x 100 inches, oil on linen (2016), and many more
All his artworks and paintings hold a strong ability and a reflection of reality that allows viewers to fill in narrative mysteries with their ideas and experiences.
Other than his artworks, Bartlett also secured a maintained career in the film industry. It all started he collaborated with Betsy Wyeth in 1992 to make a film named “Snow Hill” which was a big hit and received many awards such as the CINE Golden Eagle Award, Best Biography from CINDY Awards, etc.
Afterward, he co-directed small documentaries with his wife Betsy. Their latest work in the film industry is an American Southern Gothic drama movie named ‘Things Don’t Stay Fixed’ which was released in 2021.
The film starred actors including David Silverman, William Gregory Lee, Melissa Saint-Amand, and Tara Ochs.
Bo Bartlett’s Awards and Achievements
Bo Bartlett has been honored with many honorable awards for his exceptional work in both the film industry as well as the arts industry. The following mentioned are some of the major awards he received until now:
- Benjamin Lanard Memorial Award (1980)
- Charles Toppan Prize (1978)
- Cecelia Beaux Memorial Portrait Prize (1979)
- Eleanor S. Gray Still Life Prize (1980)
- Gibbes Society 1858 Southern Contemporary Art Prize (2017)
- Museum Meri Award
- Columbus Museum of Art
- Packard Prize (1977)
- The PEW Fellowship in the Arts (1993)
- Thouron Prize (1980)
- The William Emlen Cresson Traveling Scholarship (1980)
- CINE Golden Eagle Award (1995)
- The South Arts State Fellowship Award (2019)
- Portrait Society of America Excellence in Fine Art Education Award (2019)
Read about the two time Primetime Emmy Award winner, Scott Aukerman.
Bo Bartlett’s Net Worth
The famous American painter is said to have an estimated net worth of 5 million US Dollars. His paintings are the major source of his earnings.
In addition to that, his latest films and documentaries also help him with his earnings.
The Bo Bartlett Center at Columbus State University
Bo Bartlett Center was opened at the River Park campus of Columbus State University in 2018. The center displays over a dozen of Bartlett’s monumental paintings and over 300 paintings and drawings.
