Leo Atkinson

Leo Atkinson was one of the three artists with whom George Gibson built the foundation of his MGM Scenic Art Department, alongside Chicago-trained scenic artists Art Rider and William J. Smart. Originally a decorator, Atkinson grew active in scenic art in the late 1920s and became MGM’s first expert in sky painting, studying all types of formations and how to compose them on a backdrop effectively.

Beeching, Robert B. 1995. MGM and Other Grand Illusions of Motion Picture Scenic Design. Unpublished manuscript., Isackes, Richard M., Maness, Karen L. 2016. The Art of the Hollywood Backdrop, ReganArts