The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley will present a legacy retrospective of works by the late Buchanan, Michigan-based painter Joseph E. Lemay, opening with a reception on Sunday, March 8, from 2:00–4:00 PM. The program will include a special reflection by his daughter Monroe Lemay‑Emerick.
The exhibition will remain on view through June 5, 2026, Monday-Friday from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM. The opening on March 8 is free and open to the public and presented by the Fine Arts Committee of the Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley, located at 3202 Shalom Way in South Bend. Light refreshments will be served.
For more information, visit www.TheJewishFed.org/Lemay.
About Joseph E. Lemay
Joseph Lemay (1926-2001) was an American Israeli painter whose vivid expressionism, bold use of color, and deeply humanistic themes reflect a life lived between cultures, continents, and artistic traditions. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lemay developed an early passion for the arts, studying painting, sculpture, and graphic arts during his youth. Largely self-taught, he refined his craft through continuous experimentation and early successes in wood engraving and regional exhibitions.
In 1973, Lemay and his family relocated to Kibbutz Sarid in Israel, where he became a member of the national organization for Kibbutz painters and sculptors. This affiliation granted him the rare opportunity to work in a dedicated studio with full material support—sparking one of the most prolific periods of his career. He exhibited throughout Israel and internationally in Tel Aviv, Vienna, and Toronto, with works entering public collections including Bank Hapoalim (Haifa), the Haifa Port Authority, and numerous Kibbutzim.
Returning to the United States in the early 1980s, Lemay settled in Buchanan, Michigan, and continued painting full-time. His work was represented at galleries in Michigan, Indiana, and New York’s Soho district. His style—rooted in the expressive color of Matisse, the emotional contouring of Rouault, and the energetic brushwork of Soutine—evolved continuously, culminating in a dramatic shift toward geometric abstraction inspired by the basalt ruins of Qatsrin in the Golan Heights.
Lemay’s paintings, sculptures, and prints remain in private and public collections around the world. His legacy endures through the work he left behind and the generations of family who continue to preserve and share his story.
About Monroe Lemay-Emerick
Monroe Lemay-Emerick brings nearly four decades of experience in the art world, shaped by a lifelong immersion in creative practice and cultural stewardship. Raised in a household of artists, she developed an early and enduring connection to the visual arts. She studied art history and fine arts at Indiana University South Bend under the mentorship of respected South Bend artists Harold Zisla, Tuck Langland, and Alan Larkin.
Monroe later relocated to New York City, where she built a dynamic career managing international artist studios, including those of Philip Tsiaras and Gabriel Halevi. She also worked as an art dealer for prominent New York galleries, including Littlejohn Contemporary on 57th Street and Water Street Gallery in the South Street Seaport, gaining deep experience in exhibition planning, artist representation, and the commercial art market.
After returning to Southwest Michigan in 2002, Monroe founded the Buchanan Art Center— now the Roti Roti Art Center—continuing her commitment to creating accessible, communitycentered spaces for the arts. She remains actively engaged in curating regional exhibitions and currently manages the Currey Gallery at the South Bend Civic Theatre.
At this exhibition, Monroe will speak not only as an arts professional, but as a daughter honoring her father’s artistic legacy and the cultural threads that shaped his work.
About the Jewish Federation
The Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley serves as the central resource to embrace, connect, and support Jews locally and globally and connects people of all backgrounds, affiliations, ages, and observance levels through social gatherings, cultural events, and educational activities.
Jewish Federation of St. Joseph Valley
3202 Shalom Way, South Bend, IN
(574) 233-1164 * www.thejewishfed.org