Eric Hatheway: Biography

Eric Hatheway entered this world in the year 1959, in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he spent his formative years attending public elementary, junior high, and senior high schools. He graduated from Tulsa Memorial High School in May 1977 and began undergraduate studies that fall at Oklahoma State University in Stillwater, Oklahoma.

At Oklahoma State, Hatheway distinguished himself not only academically but as a leader. He was elected president of a 1,000-person coeducational residence hall and later president of the Gamma Chi Chapter of Pi Kappa Alpha. In 1981, he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Advertising, equipping himself with a strategic understanding of branding, persuasion, and communication—important tools that would later shape his artistic career.

Shortly after graduation, he joined Amerada Hess Corporation in Tulsa, working in the Land Department. Early in the morning on January 2, 1984, during a big snowstorm, he was laid off—a pivotal moment that would alter the trajectory of his life. Standing on a snowy street corner holding a box of his belongings, he resolved that corporate life was not his calling. He decided he would become an artist—though first he would need to secure the resources to pursue that goal.

He accepted a position as a Gas Contract Analyst with The Williams Companies, also in Tulsa, where he worked for five years. During that time, he maximized contributions to the company’s investment plan, which matched funds two-to-one. Once fully vested and financially prepared, he resigned, cashed out his investment plan, and at age 29 enrolled in a respected art program at University of Tulsa. All of his undergraduate credits transferred, allowing him to immerse himself immediately in painting, sculpture, printmaking, art history, graphic design, and photography. During his time at the University of Tulsa, he also completed three paid internships: he served as a designer for Fox 23 Television Station, a designer at Butler & Butler Advertising, and the lead designer at Philbrook Museum of Art.

Graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1991, Hatheway initially sought employment in graphic design field. When opportunities proved scarce due to the economy at the time, he made another defining decision: he would build his own studio and compete with those who would not hire him. With a loan from his father to purchase a computer and professional design software—tools then transforming the industry from analog drafting tables to digital platforms—he committed six months to mastering emerging technologies. At a time when many independent designers had yet to make the digital transition, Hatheway positioned himself at the forefront of a rapidly evolving field.

For the next twenty-five years, he operated a successful graphic design, marketing, and advertising studio, serving clients across the United States and the globe. As digital communication dissolved geographic limitations, his client base expanded well beyond Tulsa, allowing him to compete effectively with larger advertising and marketing agencies.

In 2016, a series of serious health challenges requiring twelve surgeries over eighteen months forced him to close the studio. He entrusted his clients to trusted colleagues and began a new chapter. Post-studio, he became Managing Partner of Hatheway Partners, LLC, a Tulsa-based firm involved in oil, gas, and equity interests, including stewardship of 480 acres of prime pasture and wheat land.

Freed from the daily demands of studio management, Hatheway turned his attention more fully to fine art, photography, and graphic design—intentionally merging the three disciplines into a unified aesthetic practice. He also became an early Brand Ambassador and Creator for Kittl, joining a select group of seven other designers serving as ambassadors when the web-based platform launched. Kittl has since grown to serve more than one million users worldwide and is growing rapidly.

Although technically retired from full-time commercial practice, Hatheway remains deeply engaged in both business and creative pursuits. He accepts select commissions in fine art, photography, and design, choosing projects with intention and discernment. His career reflects a rare synthesis of corporate strategy, entrepreneurial initiative, and artistic conviction—shaped by decisive moments, disciplined preparation, and an unwavering commitment to creative independence.

“You can draw anything I can, just don’t.”