Mayo Beckford Young (1905-1979), painter, mural painter, and printmaker, was born in Petaluma, California on October 23, 1905. He attended the University of California, Berkeley on a sport scholarship and majored in art. He continued his art studies in Munich with Hans Hoffman.

After four years in Europe he returned to California and he worked as engineer, surveyor and draftsman for the southern Pacific Railroad.  Young went back to Europe to study with Vaclav Vytlacil and while in Italy studied painting, sculpture, and fresco. He also spent time in Paris before returning to northern California.

During the Depression Young painted murals of the Federal Art Project. He became supervisor of the Oakland area of the project and later art director for Northern California.

Young was a member of the San Francisco Art Association and the American Abstract Artists. He exhibited at the Golden Gate International Exposition, the San Francisco Museum Association, New Jersey State Museum, and the National Museum of American Art.

Beckford Young died in El Cerrito, California on September 17, 1979.

source: Edan Hughes, Who Was Who in American, SF Chronicle March 17, 1940