Painter, muralist. Born in Paris, France on May 14, 1880. Labaudt was educated in France, but was essentially a self-taught artist. As a budding young painter, he was influenced by Cezanne and Seurat. After coming to the U.S. in 1906, he worked in Nashville, TN as a costume designer while painting in his leisure.

Labaudt settled in San Francisco in 1910 into a studio at 526 Powell Street and is credited with introducing modern art to California. In 1919 he began teaching at the CSFA and later, with his wife Marcelle, founded his own school of costume design. A pioneer in modern art in America, he experimented with various idioms including Surrealism and Cubism. Labaudt died on Dec. 12, 1943 in an airplane crash in India where he had gone to paint war scenes for Life magazine.

Member: Bohemian Club; Commonwealth Club (SF); Beaux Arts Club (SF); SFAA; Foundation of Western Art (LA).

Exh: San Francisco Art Association, 1917 1927 (prize), 1937 (1st prize); Bohemian Club, 1920-25; Paris Salon, 1921-31; LACMA, 1927 (1st prize); Ecole de Paris, 1928; Oakland Art Gallery, 1932; Gumps (SF), 1933 (1st prize); MOMA, 1933-36; CPLH, 1933 (solo); Oakland Art Gallery, 1934, 1939 (solos); SFMA, 1935, 1944 (solo), 1977; Brooklyn Museum, 1936; GGIE, 1939; City of Paris (SF), 1945 (solo); Stendahl Galleries (LA), 1945 (solo); Labaudt Gallery (SF), 1946-81; Crocker Museum (Sacramento), 1981.

In: SFMA; Oakland Museum. Murals: Treasure Island; Beach Chalet (SF); George Washington High School (SF); Coit Tower (Powell Street); Paramount Theater (Oakland); LA Post Office and Court House.

Sources include:
CAR; WWC 1928; Art of Treasure Island; SF Chronicle, 6-16-1935, D3; WWAA 1936-41; P&S; AAA 1919, 1933; Coit Tower.