Born in Rhode Island and a product of the Rhode Island School of Design, Maxwell Mays began his painting career seriously when he was stationed in Recife, Brazil during World War II. He was discovered by an art collector from Colorado who was a U.S.Naval Officer. They became friends and this resulted in his first show at the Colorado Springs Museum, and the Denver Museum.

Returning to peace time, not having set foot in New England in five years, he saw the once farmiliar scene in a new light and painted enthusiastically. Eighteen pictures made up his first show at Ferargil Gallery in New York City. Fredric Newlin Price, the director, had previously sponsored Grant Wood, Thomas Hart Benton, Arthur B. Davis and Lauren Ford. His debut at the famous 57th Street was a sell-out.

Maxwell Mays tells stories in each one of his paintings. He lives and paints in a carefully restored Rhode Island farmhouse built in 1737. It is filled with his work and artifacts that often appear in his pictures. His association with YANKEE, the New England Magazine has brought to the public a series of cover pictures adding greatly to his popularity as a collectible artist.

His wonderful paintings reflect Maxwell Mays' love of Rhode Island history. He is now Rhode Island's best known collectible artist. He has been painting things he remembers for a long time, and the essence, the spirit, the joy that has been wrapped in the tissue paper of memory breaks through. He believes in happiness! All along the way we have a choice look for the bright side. His 'trick' is to take you on a memory trip.

Artist's Statement: When I am holding a brush I own the world. Little by little I find I can invite you too. For instance, a kitchen a perfectly painted stove is fine; if you don't stop there..Paint the smell of the coffee perking, muffins baking, mittens drying and a clock ticking. If you can make this happen(and it is possible) you are painting LOVE... and with that you are in touch! In touch with something big and too wonderful to give a. name to. Painting, to me, is a way of believing, and for me, IT WORKS.

Maxwell Mays is the premier artist of our wonderful State and anyone who has ever heard him tell his creative tales of Little Rhody's past knows he can tell them as well as he can paint them.