MAX FINKELSTEIN

1915-2016

American sculptor Max Finkelstein was born in New York City in 1915. From an early age he excelled in areas of math and science, graduating with honors in 1934 from Baron de Hirsch Trade School in New York City, with a degree as a machinist.

From 1935-1965, Finkelstein worked in machine shops in all categories of the industry, gaining familiarity with many types of metals and plastics. He also worked on product design and the development of mass-produced parts, automated machinery, models, prototypes and fabrication.

It was not until 1954 that Finkelstein began experimenting with art, sculpting in his garage studio. He pursued this passion, studying at the California School of Art in Los Angeles, The Kahn Art Institute (LA), UCLA, Los Angeles City College, and the Sculpture Center in NYC.

He began his career as an independent artist in 1960. And since has had numerous solo and group exhibitions in the southwest and New York City. He also taught sculpture for a time at the University of Judaism.

His work has received awards from the Los Angeles Municipal Gallery, Krannert Art Museum Biennal, University of Illinois, and others.

His works are held in several corporate and public collections including: the Jewish Museum (NYC), Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, and others.

ARTIST’S STATEMENT:

As an artist in the 1950s, I first started carving in wood, then welding. The created works were based on biblical themes, fossil forms and images from nature. I began utilizing twenty five years of machine shop experience in 1963, the next phase of my art.

When machining aluminum, light, reflected from its etched surfaces causes movement and color changes. This phenomenon became a new form in the creating of my work. The aesthetics of precision became part of my art. I looked for a pure image that is derived from modern materials. To me, machined aluminum reflects the spirit of our times, the computer, the automated product, and the poetry of space. I try to capture that one fleeting image of a memory, a thought, and fuse it into a lasting reality of sculpture.

I use modules in common with industry: triangles, squares, rectangles, hexagons and circles. Machined textures and consequent development of unitized images in metal or painted wood, gives me an infinite number of combinations in the designs of my work.

Since 1955 I have worked in series, whether wall hangings or free standing structures, exploring a variety of styles and mediums, using many images and disparate materials, but one distinctive characteristic is paramount: the viewer becomes the kinetic force activating the elements of color and dynamics in the composition of the works.

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BIRTHPLACE

EARLY YEARS

1915

1932

1934

1935 - 1965

1954

1960

New York City

Graduated Saratoga Springs High School, New York
Science and math major

Graduated with honors from Baron De Hirsch Trade School, New York City
Degree: Machinist

Worked in machine shops in all categories of the industry, with many type of metals and plastics. Worked on product design and developing mass produced parts, automated machinery, models, prototypes and fabrication. Worked to tolerances from one ten thousands (.0001) of an inch to huge assembly jigs, fixtures for plane fuselages and large scale contractors.

Started sculpting in my garage studio: multimedia modeling, carving, welding and constructions

Studied at California School of Art, Los Angeles
Kahn Art Institute, Los Angeles
UCLA
Los Angeles City College
Sculpture Center, NYC

Began my independent career as an artist

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
(Selected)

2013
2001
1998
1982

1981
1977
1975
1974
1973

1970
1969
1968

1966

1965
1964

60 Year Retrospective: 1952 - 2012, American Jewish University, Los Angeles
Unit D Gallery, North Hollywood, CA
University of Judaism, Platt Gallery, Los Angeles
Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs, NY
Senior Eye Gallery, Long Beach, CA
Leopold-Gold Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Missal Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
Wenger-Casset Gallery, La Jolla, CA
Zara Gallery, San Francisco
Esther Robles Gallery, Los Angeles
Baxter Art Gallery, Caltech, Pasadena, CA
Esther Robles Gallery, Los Angeles
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
La Jolla Museum of Art, La Jolla, CA
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
A.M. Sachs Gallery, NYC
Rosequist Gallery, Tucson, AZ
Feigen/Palmer Gallery, Los Angeles
Adele Bednarz Gallery, Los Angeles
Fresno Art Center, Fresno, CA

PUBLIC COLLECTIONS

Joseph H. Hirshhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.
Jewish Museum, NYC
Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
University Art Museum, UC Berkeley, CA
Westside Jewish Community Center, Los Angeles
James A. Michener Collection, University of Texas, Austin, TX
Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
University of Haifa Museum, Haifa, Israel
San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego, CA
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
Storm King Art Center, Mountainville, NY
Hood Museum, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Honolulu Academy of Art, HI
Metropolitan Museum, Fresno, CA
UCLA, Royce Hall, Los Angeles
University of Judaism, Los Angeles
California Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles
Sinai Temple, Beverly Hills, CA
Temple Kol Ami, Los Angeles
Temple Kehillat Israel, Pacific Palisades, CA

CORPORATE COLLECTIONS

Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
Frederick R. Weisman Foundation, Los Angeles
VSI Corporation, Pasadena, CA
Continental Apartments, Santa Monica, CA
Hinkel Chemical Corporation, Dusseldorf, Germany
Rabkin and Johnson Corporation, NYC
New York Bank for Savings, NYC
Price Pfister, Pacoima, CA
Visulens Corporation, Chicago
Sidney Wragge, Inc., NYC
Sunview Apartments, Los Angeles
Industrial Design Affiliates, Beverly Hills, CA
Palmcrest Hospital, Long Beach, CA

GROUP EXHIBITIONS
(Selected)

2013

2012

2011

2010
2009
2007
2006
2004
2003
2002

2001
1997
1995

1992
1983
1979
1977
1975
1974
1973

1972

1971
1970

1969

1968

1967

1966

1965

1963

1962-63
1961

1958
1950

Liz’s Loft Los Angeles, CA
Smithsonian Air and Space Museum: “High Art: A Decade of Collecting” Washington, DC
Liz’s Loft Los Angeles, CA
American Jewish University: “LA Rising,” Los Angeles
Berman Gallery: “Lost and Found,” Santa Monica, CA
American Jewish University: “California Art”, Los Angeles
Jewish Artists Initiative: “A Gathering of Sparks,” Los Angeles
Zimmer Children's Museum: “Show and Tell,” Los Angeles
Jewish Artists Initiative: “Memory and Transformation,” Los Angeles
Zimmer Children's Museum: “Show and Tell,” Los Angeles
Beverly Hills Municipal Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA
Robert Roman Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ
University of Judaism Platt Gallery, Los Angeles
University of Judaism Platt Gallery
Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art, Malibu, CA
University of Judaism “Chai Show” (18 Years of Shows), Bel Air, CA
Frederick R. Weisman Foundation Collection, Los Angeles
Spring Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
Pepperdine University, Malibu, CA
Frederick R. Weisman Foundation Collection, Los Angeles
Long Beach Museum of Art, Long Beach, CA
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Stella Polaris Gallery Los Angeles
Laguna Beach Museum of Art, Laguna Beach, CA
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, LA
Joseph H. Hirchhorn Museum, Washington, D.C.
Occidental College, Los Angeles
Cal State Fullerton, CA
Fine Art Gallery of San Diego, CA
Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles
Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
University of Texas, Austin, TX
Philbrook Art Center, Tulsa, OK
Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA
Indianapolis Museum of Art, IN
Toledo Museum of Art, OH
Esther Bear Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
Wichita Museum of Art, KS
Long Beach Museum of Art, CA
Fordham University, NYC
Westside Jewish Community Center Los Angeles
Esther Bear Gallery Santa Barbara, CA
“Energy Show” Museum of Science and Industry, Los Angeles
Finch College Museum of Art, NYC
Cal State Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
Sally Judd Gallery, Portland, OR
Larry Aldrich Museum, Ridgefield, CT
Krannert Art Museum, Biennial, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Bonino Gallery, NYC
University Art Museum, Berkeley, CA
Long Beach Museum of Art, CA
University of Arizona Art Gallery, Tucson, AZ
La Jolla Museum of Art, La Jolla, CA
Gallery Du Jonelle, Palm Springs, CA
San Francisco Museum of Art, San Francisco
Long Beach Museum of Art, CA
National Orange Show, San Bernardino, CA
All California Art Show, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles
Long Beach Museum of Art, CA
California State Fair and Exposition
Raymond Burr Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA
Feingarten Gallery, Beverly Hills, CA
American Federation of Art Touring Exhibition
Jewish Museum, NYC
Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles
Jewish Museum, NYC
35th Annual National Orange Art Show, San Bernardino, CA

AWARDS

1977
1967

1966

1965

1958

Laguna Beach Museum of Art
Krannert Art Museum, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL
Long Beach Museum of Art, CA
Westside Jewish Community Center, Los Angeles
National Orange Art Show, San Bernardino, CA
All California Art Show, Los Angeles
Long Beach Museum of Art, CA
National Orange Show, San Bernardino, CA
Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, Los Angeles
Jewish Museum, NYC

BIBLIOGRAPHY

2011
2001
1998
1973

1971
1969

1968

1967
1966

1965
1964
1963
1961
1959
1958

“L.A. Rising” Southern California Artists before 1980
No-Ho Press, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Times, "The Guns of Autumn" by Al Martinez
Department of Housing and Urban Development, Washington, D.C.,
National Art Competition
Los Angeles Times, William Wilson Review
Independent Press Telegram, Long Beach, CA, Elsie Emery, art editor
Lecture Series: "Conversations with Artists," UC Irvine and UC LA
Art Today, 5th Edition, Falkner & Ziegfield
Art News, Lois Armstrong, November
Long Beach Press Telegram, Virginia Laddey, October
Los Angeles Times, William Wilson, September
Pictures on Exhibit, March
Art News, March
Arts Magazine, "Only the Artist Knows" by Gordon Brown, March
Arts Magazine, November
Art News, "Finkelstein Variations (in Los Angeles)" by Jules Langsner, December
Arts Magazine, November
Los Angeles Times, The Galleries, Henry J. Seldis, November
Art in America, "New Talent U.S.A." Biennial Issue, July-August
San Diego Magazine, "Brewer's Yeast Choice" by Marilyn Hagberg, June
Los Angeles Times, "'Machine Art Featured in Show at La Jolla Museum" by Henry J. Seldis
San Diego Union, "The Hard-Edge School Examined" by Dr. Armin Kietzmann
Tucson Daily Citizen, magazine section front cover, February
Artforum, illustration
Los Angeles Times, "In the Galleries"
Fresno Bee, illustration
Artforum, "California Sculpture Today"
St. Louis Post-Dispatch, illustration
Los Angeles Times, "In the Galleries"
L.A. Examiner, illustration