[1][2] He was born in Salt Lake City and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Utah (U of U) in 1952, while taking classes from his Uncle Avard.
[1] In 1965, Fairbanks was in Italy doing a study of sculpture and was able to obtain a copy of Vincenzo Di Francesca's unique conversion story to the LDS Church.
[5][6] Fairbanks sculpted a monument to John Morgan and his commercial college, one of the first business schools in Utah.
His busts of Brigham Young, David O. McKay, and Ezra Taft Benson are on display in the LDS Church's Conference Center.
[9] Fairbanks sculpted a bust of Joseph Smith, founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, when he was studying in Italy.