The Works of Orville Bulman at Surovek Gallery

The story of Orville Bulman (1904 -1978) would make a great novel: A man dreams of becoming a great artist but puts off his dreams and, as a dutiful son, helps to run the family business for more than twenty years. He sustains a neck injury, vacations in Palm Beach and begins his life as an artist. His so successful that his paintings appear in Newsweek and Life magazines.

 

It sounds fantastic, but that is the true story of the artist. Author Deborah Pollack chronicled the events in her book, Orville Bulman: An Enchanted Life And Fantastic Legacy. 

 

Bulman visited Haiti in 1952 and became fascinated with the people, the architecture and the whimsy that he discovered there. His works were collected by  patrons like the Duchess of Windsor, Marjorie Merriweather Post, President Gerald Ford and Robert F. Kennedy. The actor, Raymond Burr, showed Bulman’s work in his Beverly Hills art gallery. 

 

Bulman and his wife, Jean, established a foundation that was set up to help artists and museums. The proceeds from every Bulman painting that was sold went to artists or the museum in which his paintings were exhibited. 

 

Bulman divided his time between his hometown of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Palm Beach. Being the dutiful son actually helped his career; Bulman’s father invented the  Bulman Paper Cutter and twine dispensers that were used in grocery and dry goods stores everywhere.

 

Orville Bulman died in Palm Beach, at the age of 73, leaving a legacy of joyful works, 

 

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 For inquiries about the works of Orville Bulman available at Surovek Gallery, please contact Clay Surovek at (561) 655-2665 or clay@surovekgallery.com.

 

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 References:

Pollack, Deborah. Orville Bulman: An Enchanted Life and Fantastic Legacy. Kingston, Ontario: Blue Heron Press.

Palm Beach County. History Online. Notables/Orville Bulman.

March 13, 2026