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Maxwell Mays Folk Art Oil on Canvas, Cascade Springs Colorado, 1983

About the Item

Maxwell Mays (1918-2009) Painter and Illustrator. Signed and dated 1983, this large scale framed oil on canvas is a charming and detailed depiction of life in Cascade Springs, Colorado on a snowy day. Maxwell Mays was born in Rhode Island in 1918, and focused his art on celebrating the landscapes of his home state. Known for their birds-eye perspectives and nostalgic style, Mays' prints have appeared multiple times on the cover of Yankee Magazine. His paintings hang in many establishments, including the University of Rhode Island, and are particular favorites of Rhode Island residents. Mays' artwork often depicts scenes from throughout Rhode Island and the surrounding areas of New England but he did produce works depicting communities from across America . Featuring town squares, farm lands, and harbors, Maxwell Mays' prints celebrate the Americana found in small towns. A graduate of RISD, he began painting seriously while serving in the US Air Force in Brazil during WWII. His first one-man commercial show was at the Ferargil Gallery in New York in 1948. In the ensuing years he became notable for a number of highly successful art shows and magazine covers, and was a highly sought-after speaker and storyteller. As a successful businessman, he was Treasurer of Mays Manufacturing Company, a family business until its sale in the mid-1980s. He was Past President and Director Emeritus of the Providence Art Club where the main gallery is named in his honor. He led the drive for a major restoration of the historic property in the late 1970's. He had received Honorary Doctorates from Rhode Island College and Johnson & Wales University. He was named an Honorary Rhode Island Commodore in 1986. Upon his death in 2009, Mays willed his 300-acre estate to the Audubon Society of Rhode Island, creating the Maxwell Mays Wildlife Refuge and Maxwell Mays Interpretive Trail. His works have come up for sale and auction, including at Christie's, and have been commanding increasingly higher prices. Given a finite body of work, Mays works will only continue to appreciate in value.
  • Creator:
    Maxwell Mays (Artist)
  • Dimensions:
    Height: 35 in (88.9 cm)Width: 45.5 in (115.57 cm)Depth: 1.5 in (3.81 cm)
  • Style:
    Folk Art (In the Style Of)
  • Materials and Techniques:
  • Place of Origin:
  • Period:
    1980-1989
  • Date of Manufacture:
    1983
  • Condition:
    Wear consistent with age and use.
  • Seller Location:
    Morristown, NJ
  • Reference Number:
    1stDibs: LU5990232310652
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