Artist Bio for Morten E. Solberg

Morten E. Solberg has spent his lifetime developing his unique style of painting that he is known for, yet is a versatile artist in all mediums. He paints in oil, acrylic, and watercolor and his techniques range from photo-realism to total abstraction. There was never a time he can remember wanting to be anything other than an artist. Years of pursuing his craft via design studios and commercial art brought Mort to the West.

While living in Southern California’s Orange County, he firmly established himself in the art world with memberships in the American Watercolor Society, the National Watercolor Society, the Society of Animal Artists, Wildlife Artists of the World and Knickerbocker Artists. Mort shed his commercial ties and concentrated on fine art and has been painting full time since 1971, and most recently moved to sunny Florida!

Awards and inclusions in prestigious collections followed. His paintings have graced the covers of numerous magazines, and he has been featured in American Artist, Wildlife Art News, Art West, Watercolor, Sports Afield, Sporting Classic, Southwest Art, and Orange County Illustrated. American Artist chose Mort as their Artist of the Year in 1986. His accomplishments have earned him listings in “Who’s Who International Biographies”, “Who’s Who in America”, “Who’s Who in American Art”, and “Who’s Who in the West.” In 1993, Mort was elected to U.S. Art Magazine’s Artist Hall of Fame.” In 2001, Wildlife Art Magazine established Mort as a “Master Artist.” And, most recently, Mort was awarded the Grand prize of $25,000.00 and the Gold Medal in the Arts for the Parks Competition for his watercolor “Morning Flight.” The painting was on a nationwide tour for the following year. Most recently, his painting “Morning Flight Over Lewis Falls” has been accepted into the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museums “Birds in Art” exhibition 2007.

Mort’s interests are many and varied, and often reflected in his art. American Indian history and culture hold a special allure for Mort, perhaps because he has an Indian Chief’s daughter and Norwegian whalers and explorers among his great grandparents. . Mort’s work has taken top awards in many of the exhibitions he has entered including the Society of Animal Artists, the American Watercolor Society, and the National Watercolor Society. Mort’s work is represented in many collections including the Smithsonian Institution, National Gallery of Art, National Academy of Design, The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum of Art, The Dunnegan Museum of Art, The National World Museum of Environmental Art, American Art Magazine, Wildlife Art Magazine, and many private and public collections.

Featured In

American Artist
Wildlife Art News
Art West
Watercolor
Sports Afield
Sporting Classic
Southwest Art
Orange County Illustrated

Representation in Collections

The Smithsonian Institution
National Gallery of Art
National Academy of Design
The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Museum of Art
The Dunnegan Museum of Art
The National World Museum of Environmental Art
American Artist Magazine
Wildlife Art Magazine