Life: Maximillian E. T. von Wening (pronounced Maximillian Eugene Turner von Wening) September 27, 1957 Greenwich, Connecticut. Contemporary fine art oil painter and photographer. Maximillian E. T von Wening has resided in Palm Springs, California since 1996, and continues to run an art gallery he began in 2001 that is located in Palm Desert, California. Max comes from a family of artist and has two artistic older siblings, Ginger Melick von Wening (1953-), Kari Helen von Wening (1955-) His eldest sister Ginger is a musician and sister Kari is an artist and sculptor. Father Eugene von Wening Scarsdale, NY. Mother Virginia Ann Turner von Wening, Brooklyn, NY, was an artist specializing in oil painting on canvas. Uncle was Robert Turner a well known ceramic artist, and maternal grandfather Henry Chandlee Turner II (1902-1973) was the son of the founder of Turner Construction Company, a large construction management company in Scarsdale, New York that began in 1902. Max first learned art from his mother in her art studio starting with pencil drawing, then working with oil paint and sculpting with clay and wood. At 12, while living in Pasadena, Max was learning to make woodcuts and turn them into prints. He started taking art lessons after school and by the age of six he already knew he would become an artist. He moved to Pasadena California in 1964 where he began to study with artist Betty Mae Anderson, who is well known for her etchings on steel. Under her tutelage, Max developed his interest in the use of lighting and color to create a 3 D artistic effect in his paintings. Betty introduced Max to the artwork of masters with two becoming his favorite artists, Van Gogh and Picasso, which have influenced his oils on canvas, abstracts, and photography even today. Max received a first place award of merit at age twelve from the Pasadena Museum of Modern Art (now the Norton Simon Museum) for his first work of a sculpture of a Policeman made from clay. This work was displayed at the museum for 1 month in 1971. Van Gogh, Picasso and Renoir provided the young artist with their unique treatment of lighting and color, principles which he would incorporate into his mature work. Max studied and graduated from The Thacher School of Art in Ojai, California (1971- 1975) and was an exchange student at the Emma Willard School in New York in 1974. Max studied Business Law at Denver University from 1975 - 78.
Work: Max began his art career in 1996 doing oil painting at an old art colony in Palm Springs, California called Palapas, where he spent two years developing a series of California scenic paintings which he called California Dreaming. The paintings are in an impressionist style with highlights that appear to glow in three dimensions and are landscapes on canvas that represent Max's developmental stage as a fine art painter. Major artwork subjects by Max includes oil paintings of seascapes, oceans, landscapes, still lifes of flowers, portraits, classic cars, abstracts, and pets. Max's work has been shown in private gallery shows, commercial businesses, and malls. For many years in the 90’s he toured his one-man art show in over 50 different Costco stores around the country. He painted live in front of people while interacting directly with his customers. In 2001 Max established his first gallery in Westfield's Shopping Center in Palm Desert, Art by Max, and began selling his own original works and giclee reprints of some of the more popular works. In 2004 Max opened the doors for his second gallery, von Wening gallery and art studio in The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert, California. von Wening gallery featured his original oil paintings from abstract to realistic and also rare black and white photo collection of music and film legends. Famous woodworker Sam Maloof's furniture and rocking chairs are also exhibited and sold in his gallery. In 2004 Art by Maximillian E. T von Wening was featured on “The Price Is Right” as a fine art prize. In 2006 Max exhibited many of his classic car paintings with Boyd Coddington. In 2007 his show “Big Paintings on the Green”, Maximillian moved his paintings on the front lawn area of Saks Fifth Avenue and exhibited about 30 abstract paintings literally bigger than a car or an elephant. In 2010 Max created Flashback Gallery in The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert, California, where Max, as a photographer who gained access and knowledge under photographer John Rowlands, photographed many famous musicians. During his career, Max has been known for his many creations of portraits in oil on canvas of celebrities, rock stars, and movie stars. Clients have commissioned Max to do custom paintings for their homes and offices. Many of Maximillian E. T von Wening's commissioned works were custom designed to fit specific spaces. His 32 notable abstract paintings are exhibited at the JW Marriott Resort and Spa in Palm Desert since 2007 and they continue to be shown. Maximillian E. T. von Wening work is also shown in Malki Museum on Morongo Reservation, California. Since 1995 Maximillian E. T. von Wening has shown his work at numerous galleries, Robert Mondavi winery in Newport Beach in 2001, Dana Point Yacht Club West 1998-2001, Bahia Corenthian Yacht Club New Port Beach, CA 2001, and with Boyd Coddington classic car shows in Palm Desert, Ca 2006 and Palm Springs Cruisers Car show 2003. He has been active in charity services and has contributed with his works to foundations and auctions such as the YMCA, Palm Springs Animal Shelter, Arthritis Foundation, Desert Cancer foundation, Integrated Learning Institute, Surfrider Foundation, Debbie Chisholm Memorial Foundation, Muscular Dystrophy Association, RSCD Spiritual center, Women Leaders forum, Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, and many schools. Style: Maximillian E. T von Wening early works were inspired by Vincent Van Gogh. His later works show the style of a modern day abstract master. His distinctive shadings of light bring out an unusual depth with a 3D effect. The unmistakable von Wening style exemplifies adapted elements of van Gogh's style, from the painting “Ranch House café” to “Gaslight”, and in the early work “Honeymoon In Venice”. His work grew brighter in color, and he developed the unique and highly recognizable abstract style. He extended both his use of color and freedom in application. Max's abstract art is flow of form and vivid colors, some radiate hues of gold. His large scale abstract paintings are made in spontaneous technique and in three different styles using over a hundred colors in many, which he always mixes himself to get the colors wanted. References http://www.artbymax.com, Palm Desert Sun Newspaper July 29, 2010, Desert Magazine May 2007, Press Enterprise February 23, 2003, Drive Magazine 2007 February, CBS TV HYPERLINK "http://www.palmspringslife.com/Palm-Springs-Life/Shop-El-paseo/Annual-2010/Flashback-Gallery-on-El-Paseo/" http://www.palmspringslife.com/Palm-Springs-Life/Shop-El-paseo/Annual-2010/Flashback-Gallery-on-El-Paseo/ HYPERLINK "http://www.taunton.com/finewoodworking/Community/ArtistProfile.aspx?id=1192",Sam Maloof - Taunton Press Turner's First century, Donald E Wolf Robert Turner Shaping silence A life in Clay, Miro Hepburn Inside Costco August 1998.