Ken Eberts

Ken Eberts (July 4, 1943 - August 14, 2024) was an American painter who had been a major contributor to the automotive art genre. He was a founding member of the Automotive Fine Arts Society (AFAS), and was its president since its inception in 1983.

More than 1200 of his original paintings hang in the homes and galleries of art collectors around the world. The best known of his works include "Dad's Home" and "California Pit Stop". Eberts has created the principal posters for seven of the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. In 2003, he was named Ford Motor Company's official Centennial Artist, following Norman Rockwell who had been Ford's 50th Anniversary artist in 1953. In 1966, Lockheed Aircraft hired him to join their design team for the L-1011 airliner.

Fine art and automotive art After quitting Lockheed, he gave himself 5 years to see if he could sustain himself painting. He married in 1972. Eberts's work was being shown as "Americana" at galleries and shows. He developed his technique in watercolors and gouache on smoothly textured illustration board. The unusual combination of techniques allowed him to capture the full detail of glass, chrome and leather.

In 1981, he showed his work at the Meadow Brook Concours d'Elegance. Here he met five other artists specializing in automotive subjects. They decided to start an organization to promote recognition of a new genre: "automotive art." The name of the organization became the Automotive Fine Art Society (AFAS). The organization's goal is to raise the standards of automotive art to a level of acceptance as serious fine from the perspective of collectors and critics. Since 1986, an 8000 sq. ft. exhibit area presents member works as attendees enter the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. AFAS has also exhibited at the Goodwood Revival and numerous museums. Eberts has created the principal posters for 7 of the Pebble Beach Concours d 'Elegance events. Additional works are in the Petersen Automotive Museum (Los Angeles) and the Crawford Auto-Aviation Museum (Cleveland).

In 2003, Eberts was named Ford Motor Company's official Centennial Artist, following Norman Rockwell who had been Ford's 50th Anniversary artist in 1953.

At the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance he won The Lincoln Motor Car company award, awarded for the most elegant artwork. His work showed the three Ford GT40s that formed the team that won 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966.