A Brief Biography of Mae Alice Engron

Mae Alice Engron was born, raised and died in Indianapolis, Indiana. After injuries sustained working as a civil servant, she attended Herron School of Art, receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1984, at the age of 42. She was an abstract painter who primarily painted with oil on canvas, although early in her practice, she also painted on foil to reflect light.
Mae was a featured artist in many exhibitions in Indianapolis, Indiana, specifically the Indiana State Museum, Indiana Black Expo, Indiana Art League, Indianapolis, Public School Business Center. Her work is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Indiana State Museum, as well as PepsiCo and in private collections throughout the US and Germany. At the height of her career, she was one of few black women painters in pure abstraction following the death of Alma Thomas in 1978.
"I paint the way I feel,” she said. “When my life is in order and everything is running smoothly, I paint the geometric. When I am down, I paint lines. When I feel love, I paint flowers. When I am feeling easy, I paint flowing paintings.”
Featured in our January Art & Antiques auction are 9 of Engron’s paintings, each work showcasing her stylistic tendencies as well as the breadth of her career.
Ripley Auctions is proud to offer works by Mae Alice Engron along with other 20th Century contemporary artists such as Mala Breuer, George Drew, John Strickland, & Dick Hay.
You are invited to preview the auction on Friday, 1/24/25, from 2-5pm or by appointment. Doors open 10am day of sale with the auction starting at 11 AM EST. In person bids are welcome as well as online and phone bids.
Ripley Auctions has been selling fine art for 3 generations. Let us tell your collection's story. Contact Bridgette at [email protected], 317-251-5635, or 317-644-9204.