American

Byron Burford

U.S. b. 1920
Bally with Ruth 81.0002

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As a child, Byron Burford developed a fascination with the circus and even traveled with the circus for short periods of time. This fascination did not leave him as he reached adulthood when circus life and circus performers became the focus of much of his art. Bally with Ruth shows several sideshow performers that he would have known personally. His paintings often have a natural feel due to his technique of painting from memory and not from posed models. Burford had little exposure to art in his youth however, after visiting the Art Institute of Chicago in 1933 with his father, he decided to dedicate his life to painting. He received his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Iowa, studying under Grant Wood. As instructor and later Professor of Fine Art at the University from 1947 onward, Burford demonstrated a dedication to teaching and delight in continual learning that earned him numerous international fellowships and honors.

 

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