M. H. Maxy

b. 1895 — d. 1971

M.H. Maxy was a major artist of the Romanian avant-garde. After having studied with Frederic Storck and Camil Ressu (and, later, Arthur Segal), he held beginning with 1918-20 a number of personal exhibitions and he also exhibited with the likes of Paul Klee, Louis Marcoussis, Constantin Brancusi, Hans Arp, Marcel Janco or Victor Brauner. In 1924-25 he is co-founder of the Integral revue (which promotes ”integralism”, which includes elements from constructivism, futurism, cubism and other movements) and of the Academy of Modern and Decorative Art, done on the model of Bauhaus. In 1926, he creates at Paris the scenery and costumes for a play by Pirandello and another play by Gide. His artworks tend to lean towards social themes after 1930. In 1949, Maxy becomes the director of the Art Museum of Romania and he was also an university professor for about 3 years.