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Avard T. Fairbanks was born in Provo (Utah) on 2 March1897. He became interested in sculpture at the young age of 12. He was awarded scholarships to study at the Art Students League in New York City. At the age of 14 his work was shown in the National Academy of Design. He went to study in Paris in 1913 at the Ecole Des Beaux Arts and the Ecole de la France Grande Chaumiere. He work was displayed in the Grand Salon.
He returned to the United States at the outbreak of World War I. In 1920 Fairbanks was appointed a professor of sculpture at the University of Utah. He remained in this position until 1927. He then went to Florence (Italy) with a Guggenheim Fellowship.
Fairbanks was world famous for his large memorials, portrait busts, medals and medallions. His bust of Abraham Lincoln is in the U.S. Capitol. It was the fourth of his pieces to be given this honor.
He died in Salt Lake City form complications of a heart attack on 1 January 1987. He was honored by Winston Churchill, President Dwight Eisenhower, Canadian Prime Minister William L. Mackenzie, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and the art world in general.
The collection includes portraits of Fairbanks and statues of several of his works including Lucurgis, Daniel Jackling, Dominguez-Escalante, and several busts. He was recognized and honored throughout his life. The collection contains a small sampling of his works.
Avard T. Fairbanks Photograph Collection, 1938-1955, Utah State Historical Society.
The Avard T. Fairbanks Photograph Collection is the physical property of the Utah Historical Society, Salt Lake City, Utah. Literary rights, including copyright, may belong to the authors or their heirs and assigns. Please contact the Historical Society for information regarding specific use of this collection.