ABOUT MAX NEUFELDT

Born in 1938 in Sylvia, Kansas, Max Neufeldt was a mixed-media assemblage artist. The "waste not, want not" austerity of the Mennonite culture in which he was raised deeply influenced the materials and subject matter of his work. Max found worth and beauty in everyday objects: the hand tools, hardware, and spare parts featured in many of his pieces. This sensibility, along with the visual intricacies of the electrical grids, grain elevators, and prewar manufacturing plants that surrounded him in his formative years, was reflected in the fine crosshatching of his pen and ink drawings and his signature welded work.​

Max's influences and aesthetic were further shaped by his studies at the Pratt Institute, where he earned a Masters Degree in Fine Art. After Pratt, he moved to Venice, California, and was immersed in its fertile and adventurous 1960s art scene. There, he created, collaborated, and exhibited alongside artists such as Joe Funk, Noah Purifoy, and Momo Nagano, among others.

These pedigrees never stood in the way of his ability to create more whimsical, accessible work as well, as some of his featured pieces will attest. The range of his work has been shown in dozens of galleries throughout the United States.​

Max passed away on July 27th, 2025. He leaves behind a legacy of deep kindness and good humor, and a vast and varied body of artwork.