Biography

Bairnsfather was born in Kentucky and attended Miami University. He studied art with Frank Duveneck and Vincent Nowottny at the Cincinnati Art Academy. Moving to New York, he found work as an illustrator. He married and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where his reputation as a portrait painter grew. He continued to live in Birmingham until his death, painting and giving private art lessons.

Critical Analysis

While a student at Miami University, Bairnsfather responded to the request of his friend Alfa Lloyd with a design for the badge that was adopted by the Delta Zeta Sorority, which remains in use until this day. As an illustrator he was published in national magazines such as Harper's and the Saturday Evening Post and commissioned to do artwork for the 1915 novel "A Man's Code". He received a number of commissions for portraits and murals after moving to Birmingham. His paintings won prizes at shows sponsored by the Southern States Art League in 1929 and 1938. The 1938 prize was for his portrait of Dr. George Washington Carver.

Murals

• Monroeville, Alabama - Post Office: Harvesting
• Burlington, North Carolina - Federal Building: Cotton Textiles
• Burlington, North Carolina - Federal Building: Historical Train Station

References

1. Art: Loveliest, Time Magazine May 16 (1938).
2. Arthur Bairnsfather (Bham Wiki).
3. Jubilee: African American Art at the Van Vechten Gallery (Nashville Arts Magazine).
4. Life Magazine cover: September 16, 1926 (Pinterest).