"His paintings adorned walls around the world"

[Lilith]

By George Hunter / The Detroit News

"Max Shaye’s paintings adorned walls around the world, including in the Pentagon and the White House.

When Michigan native Gerald Ford was president, he sent a letter to Mr. Shaye, thanking him for a painting that hung in the White House during Ford’s administration depicting a Michigan ski scene.

“He did many things in his life, but art was his main love,” said longtime companion, Barbara Penrose. “He didn’t even start painting until he was 40, but he was very successful.”

Mr. Shaye, who co-owned the Grosse Pointe Quality Food Co. in Detroit, died in his Franklin home Sunday, Feb. 8, 2004. He was 92.

Mr. Shaye was born in New York on July 11, 1911. His family moved to Detroit because his father, a Romanian immigrant, was seeking better job opportunities.

Mr. Shaye graduated from the University of Detroit Law School at 19, “but he had to wait until he turned 21 to take the bar exam,” Penrose said.

Mr. Shaye successfully passed the bar, but his career as an attorney didn’t last long.

“He worked on one case, lost it, then quit to join the family business,” Penrose said. “He often joked about how he only worked on one case.”

Mr. Shaye for many years served as vice president of his family’s wholesale food business.

Then, at 40, Mr. Shaye discovered he had a talent for painting.

“After that, he would go to any art show he could get into,” Penrose said. “He would travel across the country and take his portfolio wherever he went.

“This wasn’t something he did because he needed the money — he was not the typical starving artist,” she said. “He just loved it so much.”

In addition to Penrose, survivors include a daughter, Linda Shaye; a son, Robert; four grandchildren; and one great-grandson.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday in the Ira Kaufman Chapel, 18325 Nine Mile in Southfield. Burial will be in Clover Hill Park Cemetery in Birmingham.

Memorials may be sent to the Shaye Scholarship Fund, c/o Congregation Shaarey Zedek, 28375 Bell Road, Southfield, MI 48034."

               ~     ~   ~ Other Information Relayed to me ~  ~  ~  ~

"Information recieved from the lawyers of his estate:

These are limited edition serigraphs on handmade paper by Max Shaye. Serigraphs are HAND SIGNED, NUMBERED, AND TITLED by Max Shaye! Max Shaye is recognized for his extraordinary use of color; his works can be found in over 5000 public and private collections throughout the world including – the White House, the Pentagon, and New Line Cinema Corp. His works have sold for a minimum of $300 in galleries nationwide"

^The Man

^Example Of his Work

For an artist "whose paintings adorned walls around the world" there certianly is not much much more information on the net besides the above.

*Have You seen a scan/picture of his art online, at a gallery/store.

*Do You Know Anything About Him?