Gordon Nicholson Cope (1906-1999) spent most of his life in Salt Lake City where he was born and raised. He began his training with A.B. Wright and LeConte Stewart from 1916 to 1923. He worked with Lawrence Squires in Arizona prior to a European sojourn to study the “old masters.” After his return to Utah, he began the art department at the LDS University in 1930-31. He continued working as a painter while maintaining a career in art education. In 1939 through 1941 Cope was the director of the Art Barn School and teacher for the Works Project Administration (WPA). During his career he was recognized as a major artist of the Depression Era. There are 26 paintings in the State Fine Art Collection. His later life was spent in California.

Source: Dictionary of Utah Art by Robert S. Olpin