In March 2025, Brown Button Estate Sales was honored to host a truly one-of-a-kind event: the living estate sale of renowned portrait artist John Boyd Martin. Held March 13–15 inside Martin’s private Kansas City home and studio, the sale provided an extraordinary glimpse into the world of one of Kansas City’s most accomplished painters. The event received widespread attention—including a feature segment on FOX 4 KC, where Brown Button’s president John Yerkes joined Nick Vasos and Kristin Palmer to discuss Martin’s legacy and the significance of the sale.
With original artwork, rare memorabilia, and unique personal items available to the public, the sale attracted hundreds of attendees and thousands of online viewers—offering an unforgettable experience for art collectors and Kansas City history enthusiasts alike.
John Boyd Martin – His Life and Work
Born in 1936 in Ottawa, Kansas, just across the street from Ottawa University, John Boyd Martin developed an early appreciation for the honest, hard-working culture of the Midwest. These formative years deeply shaped his artistic lens, giving his work a grounded, relatable style known for its realism and emotional depth.
A graduate of the University of Kansas School of Fine Arts, Martin began his professional life as an advertising art director and illustrator—earning over 150 local and national awards for his creativity. Eventually, he transitioned to his true passion: portraiture. Over the decades, he has painted a diverse array of significant figures across academia, medicine, business, and especially sports.
Martin’s portfolio includes murals and portraits for the Kansas City Chiefs Hall of Fame, the Kansas City Royals Hall of Fame, and Allen Fieldhouse at the University of Kansas. His subjects have included legends such as George Brett, Len Dawson, Tom Watson, Bo Jackson, Buck O’Neil, Frank White, and even icons like Joe DiMaggio, Arnold Palmer, and Stan Musial. His art now hangs in over 90 cities worldwide, from Kansas City to Dublin, Ireland, and Miyazaki, Japan.
From corporate boardrooms to championship murals, and even the iconic Worlds of Fun logo, John Boyd Martin’s art has left an enduring mark on the cultural fabric of Kansas City and beyond.
Estate Sale Inside the Studio of a Living Legend
The living estate sale took place inside Martin’s personal home and art studio, a space filled with decades of inspiration, creative tools, and original works. This wasn’t just an estate sale—it was a rare chance to step inside the workspace of a legendary artist and experience his creative world firsthand.
The sale featured a wide array of highlights, including a variety of sketches, studies, limited edition prints, and finished original oil paintings; art by fellow artists from his personal network, celebrity-signed prints from George Brett and Tom Watson, a 1981 Mercedes-Benz 380 SL Roadster, and many more rare and personal items that reflected Martin’s storied life and eclectic interests.
The unique combination of fine art, memorabilia, and personal treasures made the sale a must-see event, drawing in collectors, fans, and curious visitors alike.
As Seen on FOX 4 KC
The sale’s significance reached the broader public when FOX 4 KC invited Brown Button President, John Yerkes, onto the morning show with Nick Vasos and Kristin Palmer. During the segment, Yerkes discussed Martin’s impact on the arts community, the highlights of the sale, and what it meant for Brown Button to host such a remarkable event.
The television spotlight helped amplify the excitement surrounding the sale, which garnered 35,000 online views and hundreds of in-person attendees. It was clear that the Kansas City community was eager to celebrate Martin’s contributions and explore the space where he created so many of his iconic pieces.
A Brown Button Team Honor
For the Brown Button team, this sale was far more than just another project—it was a privilege. Getting to work alongside the Boyd family and witness John Boyd Martin’s creative process up close was a rare and inspiring opportunity. Walking through his studio, surrounded by decades of work, sketches, brushes, and stories, was like stepping into a living museum of American portraiture.
We were honored to serve the family, to help preserve and share this artistic legacy, and to welcome so many visitors into the space where John created his magic. It was a celebration of art, legacy, and community—and we’re grateful to have played a part.
