Max R. Scharf was born in 1933 in St. Louis, Missouri where he currently resides with his wife, Esther. He was formally trained at Washington University School of Fine Art in St. Louis in the early 1950’s. In 1953 he was drafted into the U.S. Army. Subsequently he was sent to Engineering Drafting School at Ft. Belvoir, VA. Upon completion of the drafting course he was assigned to Ft. Leonard Wood, MO to work in a field printing plant as an Army Artist, Film Stripper and Plate-maker. To this day he credits that training as a vital part of his artistic skills. Scharf was honorably discharged from the Army in late 1955 and he spent the next two years working as a technical illustrator in the aircraft industry in Los Angeles, CA. He returned to St. Louis to work as Art Director for Vi-Tronic, Inc, a manufacturer of executive gifts. He left Vi-Tronic in 1963 to start his own business. For the next 27 years he was self-employed in the corporate world utilizing his artistic and business skills. He was fortunate enough to travel the world during his corporate life, photographing scenes that he would eventually put to canvas. He painted on weekends during that time frame. In 1991 Scharf left the corporate world and opened his art studio in St. Louis and concentrated full time on his professional fine art career as an expressionist painter. Max R. Scharf is a no-nonsense disciplined professional who devotes all his energy, skills and experience to create a work of art that is a jubilant celebration of color, light, and motion… to brighten the day…everyday…for his viewers.
Special Awards & Selected Exhibitions
Winner, Saint Louis Art Museum competition for their 1992 Museum holiday card. Awarded by the Saint Louis Art Museum.
Solo exhibition 1993, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Interior, National Park Service – “ Impressions of National Parks & St. Louis” held in the rotunda of the historic Old Courthouse in the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis, MO USA.
Selected as one of twenty-four artists to create a painting for the 1994 United States Olympic Friendship Games.
Election as a Signature Member of the National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society (NOAPS) in 1994 and was elected to its Board of Directors in the same year.
Signature Members Asia Tour 1997, National Oil & Acrylic Painters Society, in Bangkok, Manila, Taipei, Taiwan and Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Solo exhibition 1999, Lindenwood University, St. Louis, MO
Solo exhibition 2000, William Woods University, Fulton, MO: major exhibition of 40 originals of both impressionist and abstract works.
Max R. Scharf has participated in academic, public and private exhibitions in… New York, NY – Chicago, Ill – Las Vegas, NV – Scottsdale, AZ – San Francisco, CA – Irving, CA – Los Angeles, CA – Palm Springs, CA – La Jolla, CA – Laguna, Beach, CA – San Diego, CA – Park City, UT – Memphis, TN – St. Louis, MO – Osage Beach, MO – Fulton, MO – Minneapolis, MN – Bal Harbor, FL – Del Ray Beach, FL – Miami, FL, - Long Boat Key, FL – Boca Raton, FL – Okinawa, Japan - Bangkok, Thailand – Manila, Philippines – Taipei, Taiwan and Kowloon, Hong Kong.
Collectors
Scharf’s original paintings and/or limited edition prints hang in private and corporate collections in Japan, China, France, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, England, Brazil, Puerto Rico, Jamaica, Cayman Islands, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Mexico, and the United States of America.
Books & Web Sites Where Referenced
“The Best of Acrylic Painting”
Author: Duca, Alfred M.Published 1996. 3 images dedicated to the artist. Publisher: Quarry Books – Rockport, MA USA
“Landscape Inspirations”
Author: Knapp, StephenPublished 1997 3 images dedicated to the artist. Publisher: Quarry Books – Rockport, MA USA
“Acrylic Highlights”
Author: Doherty, M. StephenPublished 2004. 4 images dedicated to the artist. Publisher: American Artist Magazine-New York, New York USA “Beyond the Beyond: Emanations of Love” Author: Scharf, EstherPublished 200672 images dedicated to the artist. Publisher: Xlibris – Philadelphia, PA USA
Scharf has been cited in such publications as Art Business News,Art World News,U.S. Art Magazine,Décor Magazine,St. Louis Magazine,Counselor Magazine,PPB Magazine.Channel 5 NBC TV and Channel 30 ABC TV, plus seen in Art & Antiques Magazine and Indulge Magazine. Max R. Scharf has been a guest speaker for universities, teaching senior art classes about “The Business Part Of The Artist’s World”. In 2003 Scharf was designated “NOAPS Signature Artist Emeritus”. Scharf was selected as the Juror for the NOAPS “BEST of Missouri! 2004” competition held at the Rozier Gallery, Missouri State Museum.
To view larger images of paintings click on image.