Murray Turnbull (1919-2014), born in Iowa, was both an American artist and a dedicated art educator. He shaped the UH school system as the acting dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and as the founder of the East-West center at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. As a painter and sculptor, Turnbull adopted an abstract expressionistic approach to art, known for his brightly colored figurative drawings, which could be seen throughout multiple public school campuses. He was an influential figure who broadened the understanding of education and its role in arts.