Tom Everhart was born in 1952 in Washington, D.C. He studied art at Yale University’s School of Art and Architecture and later continued his education at the Musée de l’Orangerie in Paris. During his early years in New York, he formed close relationships with influential artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, which helped shape his artistic path.

In 1980, Everhart met Charles M. Schulz, marking the beginning of a lasting creative relationship. Through years of dedicated study, Everhart immersed himself in Schulz’s distinctive line work. As a result, Schulz granted him exclusive permission to use Peanuts© characters in fine art. This rare authorization was formally established in a 1991 legal agreement, and Everhart remains the only fine artist ever allowed to do so.

In 1988, while recovering from life-threatening cancer, Everhart experienced a major artistic shift. Surrounded by Peanuts© comic strips sent to him by Schulz, he began creating paintings inspired by the characters. These works soon became central to his practice and career.

Since then, Everhart’s paintings have been exhibited internationally at major institutions, including the Louvre in Paris, the Suntory Museum of Art in Japan, the L.A. County Museum of Natural History, and the Charles M. Schulz Museum. His work has also appeared in museum retrospectives, publications, and national television tributes.

Today, Everhart lives and works in Venice, California, with a secondary studio in French Polynesia.  Above all, Tom Everhart is recognized as the sole fine artist authorized to bring Peanuts© into the realm of fine art.