Description:

Edgar Britton
Illinois, Colorado, Nebraska, (1901 - 1982)
religious scenes
2 lithographs
Signed lower right and inscribed.

Biography from the Archives of askART: Known primarily for his murals, Edgar Britton was also a painter in oil and watercolor and a sculptor in bronze. His work, with "simplified, weighty forms", (Kennedy 95) was obviously influenced by the social-realist style of the Mexican muralists including Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, and David Siqueiros.

Britton was born in Kearney, Nebraska and studied at the University of Iowa and with Grand Wood from 1920 to 1924.

His reputation was established during the Depression years when he did numerous paintings and murals for the Federal Art Project including serving as Director from 1940 to 1941 of the mural division of the Illinois Art Project. His fresco work, completed for the Works Progress Administration, is in the Waterloo, Iowa Post Office; and Chicago Heights, Illinois at Bloom High School. On June 3, 1982, it was named the first high school in Illinois to be a National Historic site, in part because of the Edgar Britton's frescoes, which are in the entrance of the building and on other walls throughout Bloom High School. (Information from Roland Ramirez, 1982 graduate of Bloom High School).

Because he had tuberculosis, his doctor advised him to go to Colorado, which he did in the mid 1940s, and he stayed there the remainder of his life and focused primarily on creating sculpture. He also taught art at the Fountain Valley School for boys and the Colorado Springs Fine Art Center. From 1967 to 1971, he was a member of the Fine Arts Commission of Denver, and he served as President of the Artists Equity in Colorado Springs.

Art exhibitions:
"The Lyrical Line: Edgar Britton's Passion for the Human Figure." Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. 20 January-13 May 2001.

"The Erotic Art of Edgar Britton," Coburn Gallery, Colorado College. 28 March -18 April, 2001.

Reviews of book and exhibitions:
Joanne Ditmer, "Brazen bronze: Book spotlights Britton's graceful local figures." Denver Post. 4 June 2001.

Michael Paglia, "Mind and Body: Edgar Britton's legacy is rediscovered." Westword. 12-18 April, 2001.

Mark Arnest, "Exhibits show Britton's work is both erotic, innocent." The Gazette. Colorado Springs, 6 April 2001.

Mary Chandler, "Work celebrates human body." Rocky Mountain News. 25 March 2001.

John Hazlehurst, "Tracing the Lyrical Line." The Independent. Colorado Springs, 18-24 January 2001.


Sources include:
Louise Dunn Yochim, Role and Impact: The Chicago Society of Artists
Elizabeth Kennedy, Chicago Modern, 1893-1945
Exhibition and book review information courtesy of Jane Hilberry
Roland Ramirez, Chicago Heights, Illinois

  • Dimensions: 8 5/8"H x 11 5/8"W (largest)
  • Medium: 2 lithographs

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October 7, 2023 11:00 AM EDT
Indianapolis, IN, US

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