Phillip Henry Barkdull

Philip Henry Barkdull was born in 1888 in a farming community near Fillmore, Utah. During his childhood Philip experienced a head injury that left him with lifelong problems involving his hearing and sinuses. At the age of twenty-three Philip left his family’s farm to attend high school at Brigham Young University where he stayed to study art after he completed his primary education.

Before Philip was able to attain his degree he was drafted into the Armed Forces to fight in WWI, however he was discharged a few months later due to his poor health. For the next six years Philip taught art at various high schools in Utah until he settled in Provo where he taught for two years at Provo High while finishing his degree at BYU. Philip went on to teach at Utah State University, work in the Logan school system, and teach art part-time. He continued to paint until his death in 1968.

Philip Henry Barkdull is best known for his landscapes of Utah. He became acquainted with artist Birger Sandzen whose neo-impressionist techniques greatly influenced Philip’s own style. Curiously, Philip’s style wasn’t as well-received in Utah as it was on the East Coast.