Good day,
Attached is a press release from the city of St. Ingbert with a request for publication.
St. Ingbert artist Max G. Grand-Montagne passed away
The city of St. Ingbert mourns the artist Max G. Grand-Montagne, who passed away at the end of May at the age of 84.
With him, St. Ingbert loses a defining figure of cultural life, an internationally recognized artist, and a person who remained closely connected to his hometown for many decades. Max G. Grand-Montagne was born in 1941 in St. Ingbert. His artistic education took him, among other places, to the European Art Academy Trier; later, painting, graphics, and especially experimental woodcut shaped his work.
His artistic journey did not start straightforwardly in the studio. After training in the state administration and professional stations in the Saarland Ministry of Economic Affairs, he found his way to art with great determination. This unique biography gave his work its own depth: Max G. Grand-Montagne combined discipline and precision with artistic freedom, reduction, and expressiveness. "For me, it is important that the images evoke a feeling in the viewer and are harmonious. Ultimately, we are all striving for harmony," he said years ago in a conversation with Mayor Dr. Ulli Meyer.
He became known for a distinctive visual language. His works ranged between abstract form, calligraphic line, geometric rigor, and lively gesture. Characteristic were reduced compositions, often in black, red, and white, frequently using the square as a basic shape. His works received recognition far beyond St. Ingbert and the Saarland; they were exhibited in Germany, France, and internationally, and are held in public collections including the French Consulate in Madagascar and the museum in Penang, Malaysia.
For St. Ingbert, maxg, as he was affectionately called in his hometown, was much more than just an artist with a national reputation. He was a cultural person, an initiator, and a bridge builder. In 1988, he founded the Summer Academy Villa Martin in St. Ingbert and directed it until 2005. Later, he was present for many years with the "kunstraum maxg" in St. Ingbert. His connection to St. Ingbert was evident not only in his artistic work but also in his social engagement. As a former Georg scout, he supported the friends and sponsors of the DPSG in Saarland with his artistic talent and was named an honorary member of the F+F Saar in 2024.
“I greatly appreciated Max G. Grand-Montagne both as a person and as an artist. He had the special gift of making the essential visible with just a few lines and clear shapes. With his passing, St. Ingbert loses not only an important artistic personality but also an open-minded, compassionate individual who enriched our city culturally and made it visible far beyond its borders. His work and legacy will remain in St. Ingbert,” honors Mayor Dr. Ulli Meyer the late artist.
His death also leaves a great void in the families of his children in St. Ingbert and Hamburg. They lose a compassionate father and proud grandfather who always had an open ear for his two children and five grandchildren.
Photo: Michael Staut
Caption: Max G. Grand-Montagne at an award ceremony at the St. Ingbert Town Hall in April 2024.
