Waldo Midgley was a watercolor and oil painter from Utah that spent most of life working in New York City. Born in 1888, he studied under Mahonri Young in Utah, attended the New York School of Art, and later studied under Robert Henri. Art historian Donna Poulton wrote that Midgley, “rejected the constrained conservatism of the National Academy of Design in favor of art that expressed forceful themes and rich subject matter, and that captured the excitement of New York scenes and people.” He painted the newly completed Empire State Building before its communication tower was erected (above). He passed away in 1986.
