By Linda Tesner
Among the most enigmatic 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 favored 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, painting, sculpture, and mail art.
May was himself a contraction: humble, yet uncommonly sophisticated. His creative process was informed by all manner of visual culture—studying magazines and monographs at the Salem Public Library and 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.
Linda Tesner is an independent curator and writer living in Portland, Oregon.
Product Details:
Publisher: Hallie Ford Museum of Art, Willamette University
Distributor: Oregon State University Press
Publication Date: January 15, 2026
Language: English
Hardcover: 208 pages, 190 color illustrations, 5 black and white illustrations
ISBN: 9781930957909
Dimensions: 10.5 x 10.5 inches
Retail Price: $45
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