Midgley art exhibit to open June 22

Anthony's Fine Art and Antiques (401 E. 200 South) will present a major exhibit of more than 70 works by Utah artist Waldo Midgley (1888-1986). The exhibit will run Friday, June 22, through Aug. 15.

Friday's opening reception will host Vern Swanson, director of the Springville Museum of Art, who will discuss Midgley's life, work and legacy. The event begins at 7 p.m.

Midgley, a talented painter, illustrator, printmaker and teacher, who spent most of his long and productive life on the East Coast, studied art early in Utah with Mahonri Young from 1905-07. Through 1921, he studied with such New York artists as Robert Henri, John Sloan, George Bellows, George Luks and Walt Kuhn.

Back East, Midgley became a successful artist working with some of the nation's most prestigious agencies and publications. He was a gifted etcher and was adept at painting the figure, animals and landscape.

The artist returned to Utah in his later years and was the recipient of retrospective in the mid-1980s.

In collaboration with art historian, Donna Poulton, Anthony's has published a book on Midgley that will be available at the exhibition.