Background
His father, also named John Boylston Fairbanks (1817-1875), was an early pioneer who had come to Utah from the Winter Quarters in 1847.
His father, also named John Boylston Fairbanks (1817-1875), was an early pioneer who had come to Utah from the Winter Quarters in 1847.
Although he showed an early interest in art, he had no inclination to pursue it as a career until, in 1877, he visited the studios of John Hafen, an aspiring artist his own age. After a long time of spending most of his days at the studio, Hafen dared him to do a painting. He did, it was good (he had a hard time convincing his mother that it was his), and that was the beginning of his career.
Hafen became his lifelong friend and mentor.
He was called to be a missionary in the Southern States Mission of the Church from 1881 to 1883. Upon returning, he took a job in his father-in-law"s store, painting furniture.
In 1890, together with Hafen, Edwin Evans and Lorus Pratt, he was awarded a two-year scholarship to study at the Académie Julian in Paris, where their primary instructor was Albert Rigolot, and they became known as the "French Art Missionaries". Upon their return, they executed the murals and frescoes for the Salt Lake Temple, which was consecrated in 1893.
Years later, he also helped to decorate the Church Administration Building and the Mesa Arizona Temple.
Later career
He was able to secure a position teaching at the "Brigham Young Academy" (now Brigham Young University), but he still received little public recognition. The boy, Avard, suffered no serious injuries and grew up to be a well-known sculptor. While returning, he passed through New York and would later spend much time there, copying works to sell back home.
His art was never financially successful and he occasionally supplemented his income by working as a window dresser.
He also served as an art supervisor for the public schools of Ogden, Utah, and as a board member of the Utah Art Institute (now the Utah Division of Arts and Museums).