The Art of D.E. May

Among the most enigmatic of Oregon’s artists was D. E. May (1952–2019), who lived most of his life in Salem—or, as he affectionately called his hometown, “Islandsalem.” May’s imagery was based in geometric language that favors graphs, templates, boat forms, and constructivist compositions, while his choice of materials consisted of cardboard cast—offs and stray discarded paper, often collected off the street and weathered by Salem drizzle. From this found ephemera and bits of wood, May created a prodigious body of work that included collages, drawings, paintings, sculpture, and mail art.

May was himself a contradiction: humble, yet uncommonly sophisticated. His creative process was informed by all manner of visual culture—he studied magazines and monographs at the Salem Public Library and developed a deep knowledge of television and film history—along with a passion for all forms of music. May’s social life centered on a circle of friends and the nighttime patrons of Pete’s Place and other local watering holes. With an informative and insightful essay by curator and art historian Linda Tesner and abundant plates of May’s art work, The Art of D. E. May serves as a magisterial tribute to a singular artist.