About This Event
The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley will present a legacy retrospective of works by Joseph E. Lemay, opening with a reception on Sunday, March 8, from 2:00–4:00 PM. The opening will include a special reflection by his daughter, Monroe Lemay‑Emerick. The exhibition will remain on view through June 5, 2026.
Joseph Lemay (1926-2001) was an American Israeli painter whose vivid expressionism, bold use of color, and deeply humanistic themes reflect a life lived between cultures, continents, and artistic traditions. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lemay developed an early passion for the arts, studying painting, sculpture, and graphic arts during his youth. Largely self-taught, he refined his craft through continuous experimentation and early successes in wood engraving and regional exhibitions.
In 1973, Lemay and his family relocated to Kibbutz Sarid in Israel, where he became a member of the national organization for Kibbutz painters and sculptors. This affiliation granted him the rare opportunity to work in a dedicated studio with full material support—sparking one of the most prolific periods of his career. He exhibited throughout Israel and internationally in Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Toronto, with works entering public collections including Bank Hapoalim (Haifa), the Haifa Port Authority, and numerous Kibbutzim.
Returning to the United States in the early 1980s, Lemay settled in Buchanan, Michigan, and continued painting full-time. His work was represented at galleries in Michigan, Indiana, and New York’s Soho district. His style—rooted in the expressive color of Matisse, the emotional contouring of Rouault, and the energetic brushwork of Soutine—evolved continuously, culminating in a dramatic shift toward geometric abstraction inspired by the basalt ruins of Qatsrin in the Golan Heights.
Lemay’s paintings, sculptures, and prints remain in private and public collections around the world. His legacy endures through the work he left behind and the generations of family who continue to preserve and share his story.
About This Event
The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley will present a legacy retrospective of works by Joseph E. Lemay, opening with a reception on Sunday, March 8, from 2:00–4:00 PM. The opening will include a special reflection by his daughter, Monroe Lemay‑Emerick. The exhibition will remain on view through June 5, 2026.
Joseph Lemay (1926-2001) was an American Israeli painter whose vivid expressionism, bold use of color, and deeply humanistic themes reflect a life lived between cultures, continents, and artistic traditions. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lemay developed an early passion for the arts, studying painting, sculpture, and graphic arts during his youth. Largely self-taught, he refined his craft through continuous experimentation and early successes in wood engraving and regional exhibitions.
In 1973, Lemay and his family relocated to Kibbutz Sarid in Israel, where he became a member of the national organization for Kibbutz painters and sculptors. This affiliation granted him the rare opportunity to work in a dedicated studio with full material support—sparking one of the most prolific periods of his career. He exhibited throughout Israel and internationally in Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Toronto, with works entering public collections including Bank Hapoalim (Haifa), the Haifa Port Authority, and numerous Kibbutzim.
Returning to the United States in the early 1980s, Lemay settled in Buchanan, Michigan, and continued painting full-time. His work was represented at galleries in Michigan, Indiana, and New York’s Soho district. His style—rooted in the expressive color of Matisse, the emotional contouring of Rouault, and the energetic brushwork of Soutine—evolved continuously, culminating in a dramatic shift toward geometric abstraction inspired by the basalt ruins of Qatsrin in the Golan Heights.
Lemay’s paintings, sculptures, and prints remain in private and public collections around the world. His legacy endures through the work he left behind and the generations of family who continue to preserve and share his story.