Born on a farm in Mason City, Illinois (1904), L. A. D. Montgomery began his studies in art at Bradley University in Peoria, Illinois and the Chouinard Art School in Los Angeles. He then moved cross-country to pursue his studies at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Barnes Foundation. After marrying, he sailed on a freighter to Paris where he continued to study painting. Montgomery returned to the United States prior to World War II to work on a WPA project. He has exhibited extensively in Philadelphia and southern New Jersey, and in 1987 he was given a solo exhibition at the Noyes Museum of Oceanville, New Jersey.

Like Mondrian and other 20th century artists, L. A. D. Montgomery moved from still life and landscape to geometric abstraction. The geometry gives his work its wonderful sense of order. However, underlying all his paintings and collages is a gentle warmth combined with an imposing dignity. The honesty, charm and strength of his work has made him one of southern New Jersey’s leading artists.