Earl Kerkham studied at the Rand School, the Art Student's League and the School of Design. He designed for the Stanley Company and Warner Brothers and was art editor of Progress. In 1924 he went to Paris and studied at the Academies de la Grand Chaumiere and Academy Colorisie. He was in charge of the exhibits at the American Art Gallery in Paris. His work was exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art, the Corcoran Art Gallery, Art Institute of Chicago and the Mellon Galleries. His clients included the Herald Tribune, the Brooklyn Eagle and the Red Stallion Press.