Edgar Britton

1940s WPA Era American Modern Colorado Mountain Landscape Watercolor Painting

1946

Born in Kearney, Nebraska, Edgar Britton was a muralist, bronze sculptor, and landscape painter. He studied at the University of Iowa from 1918-1920, and with Grant Wood from 1920-1924. Britton was influenced by the social-realist style of the Mexican muralists, such as Diego Rivera, Jose Orozco, and David Siqueiros. He was commissioned to do architectural art in Chicago from 1925 to 1935. During the 1930’s, he did seven murals for the Works Progress Administration, including the Department of the Interior Building in Washington D.C. Britton served as Director of the mural division of the Illinois Art Project from 1940 to 1941. In 1941, Britton moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Britton was soon diagnosed with tuberculosis, and his doctor advised him to move to the drier climate of Colorado. He remained in Colorado for the rest of his life and devoted his time to creating sculptures. He was commissioned to do sculptural work in Colorado Springs and Denver. At the request of Boardman Robinson, he became an instructor of painting at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. He was an instructor at the Fine Arts Center from 1943-1950. He was also an instructor of painting at the Fountain Valley School from 1942-1950. From 1967 to 1971, Britton was a member of the Fine Arts Commission of Denver, and he served as President of the Artists Equity in Colorado Springs. Exhibited: AIC, WMAA, 1933-1937; PAFA, 1939; Denver Art Mus., 1943-45, (prize 1944), 1948 (Anne Evans Memorial Prize for painting), opening show, 1972 and solo show, 1972; Pasadena AI, 1946, (prize), 1949 (first prize for painting); Univ. Nebraska, 1945; Colorado Springs FA Center, 1945, 1946 (prize), 1953, 1955; Corcoran Gal, 1947; Des Moines Art Center, 1949-50, 1952; solo and group shows, Fine Arts Center, Colorado Springs; Denver Chapter, Am. Inst. Architects, 1971 (award); Littledale Gallery, Littleton, CO, 1970s. Works Held: AIC; Denver Art Mus.; Colorado Springs FA Center; Pasadena AI; Univ. Nebraska; USPO, East Moline, IL; Dept. Interior Build., Wash., DC; U.S. Nat. Bank, Colorado Springs Library, CO; Genesis, Antlers Plaza, Colorado Springs; The Family, Denver General Hosp. Commissions: frescoes for Chicago Heights H.S. and Deerfield Shields H.S., WPA, 1935; frescoes, Lane Technical H.S., Chicago, IL, 1937; frescoes, 1939 and frescoes for Waterloo Post Office, Iowa, 1940, U.S. Dept. Interior Fine Arts Commission. Further Reading: Pikes Peak Vision: The Broadmoor Art Academy, 1919-1945. The Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center: Colorado Springs, 1989.; Who Was Who in American Art 1564-1975: 400 Years of Artists in America, Vol. I. Peter Hastings Falk, Georgia Kuchen and Veronica Roessler, eds., Sound View Press, Madison, Connecticut, 1999. 3 Vols. ©David Cook Galleries, LLC