J. Leo Fairbanks

Leo Fairbanks was a Utah artist who was best known for his landscape paintings of the southwest and northwest United States, but who was also an accomplished illustrator, talented sculptor and even experimented with stained glass on some occasions. Leo typically painted in the style of realism, but he did employ some Impressionist traits, like his use of bright colors. He frequently painted southern Utah’s red rock formations and spring blossoms in the northern parts of the state. He also resided in Oregon and painted many scenes of its landscape.

Leo Fairbanks was born in Payson, Utah in 1878. He is related to J. B. Fairbanks (father), and Avard Fairbanks (brother) who are both well-known Utah artists themselves. Leo first received art instruction from his father before going on to study at Brigham Young University and later in Paris at theAcadémie Julian and other schools. Upon his return stateside, Leo accepted a job as Salt Lake City School District’s supervisor of art. Following some personal tragedies, Leo returned to school for a time before taking a job for the LDS Church. Leo, along with Avard, travelled to Hawaii to work on sculptures for the LDS temple in Laie. Leo would also do work on the Mesa, Arizona temple.

Leo’s diversified interests and broad artistic talent enabled him to work on a number of different artistic projects. He did illustrations for multiple LDS publications, organized and served with the Salt Lake City planning commission, and helped found the American Federation of Arts. Because of his wide-ranging abilities, Leo was eventually offered a teaching position at Oregon State University, where he would remain for the next 26 years. In addition to his job as a teacher, Leo also wrote articles for various publications and frequently expressed his opinions of art over the radio. In 1946, Leo’s declining health culminated in his death after a heart attack he suffered while at the theatre with his wife. Despite his untimely death, Leo made a strong impact in the world of American art.