Washington, the President

Avard T. Fairbanks
American, 1897–1987

​Washington, the President,

Bronze, 4' x 2.25' x 2'

Gift of Dr. David Fairbanks, NEHMA Collection

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Avard T. Fairbanks came from an artistic family. His father, John B. Fairbanks, was an artist and an art instructor at Brigham Young Academy, now Brigham Young University. Fairbanks displayed an aptitude for art at a young age, winning first prize in the Utah State Fair at the age of 12 for a sculpture of his pet rabbit. When the judge—a university professor—learned the winner was a boy, he refused to award the medal. Nevertheless, Avard was determined to become a professional sculptor. He studied in New York, Paris, and Italy, and earned a PhD in Anatomy from the University of Michigan, where he also worked as a professor of sculpture. He later joined the faculty of the University of Utah. During the course of his career, he created more than 100 public monuments like these statues of Presidents Abraham Lincoln and George Washington.