I lived in Ann Arbor, MI for a total of 13 years (four during my stint at the University of Michigan and nine when I was all growns up) and during that time I noticed a particular artist’s work again and again. An original oil at the dry cleaner, screen prints in book shops, even designs on shopping bags (Sams! Your Army-Navy / Levi’s headquarters!). All the art had a loose, jazzy, mid-century feel to it, and I thought they were cool. It was all done by one guy, Milt Kemnitz, and he was prolific.
He worked from the end of World War II up into the early 2000s. An Ann Arbor boy through and through, Kemnitz had family roots there and an obvious love for the town that he drew and painted for decades. He even showed at the first Ann Arbor Art Fair in 1960.
Kemnitz’s almost cartoonishly loose style inspired me to start drawing Ann Arbor places when I lived there for the second time. I took architectural drawing classes one summer, and each week a group of us would sit down and sketch buildings around town. Man, that was nice… the rich balmy air of the Huron River valley. The quiet of an Ann Arbor summer. The low light, speckled with gentle, natural debris from all the trees. I used my own cartoony style as a jumping off point, but always tried to add some of that lyricism — the musicality — that I saw in Kemnitz’s work. Here’s a taste of his stuff.
A Few Choice Pieces by Milt Kemnitz
And a couple of mine:
37 comments
John, I was always a fan of Kemnitz’s work back in A2 (and still am, of course). Is he still active?
Nope, Lou. Mistah Kemnitz, he daid.
I need to contact member of Kemitz family
Regarding possible licensing/ reproduction rights to a K painting
Would appreciate any info.
Thanks
Pleeze contact me
Contact me!
Hi, Adrian. I missed this; most of the comments these days are junk. Did you find out anything about Kemnitz? I certainly have not. If you ever want to use any of my Ann Arbor images for a project (I’ve done Dominick’s, the Law Quad and the old Blimpy’s so far), shoot me an email: johntebeau (at) gmail (dot) com. You can see that stuff in the shop on my website, too.
Take care,
John
Hi, Adrian. I missed this; most of the comments these days are junk. Did you find out anything about Kemnitz? I certainly have not. If you ever want to use any of my Ann Arbor images for a project (I’ve done Dominick’s, the Law Quad and the old Blimpy’s so far), shoot me an email: johntebeau (at) gmail (dot) com. You can see that stuff in the shop on my website, too.
Take care,
John
I just bought to beautiful stained glass pieces by Kemintz. One is a ship that says city of Toledo, the other is a heron. They are absolutely breathtaking! I was looking on line trying to see more of his work. Do you know where I can see more of his stained glass pieces?
Two
Hi Barbara,
I’ve never even seen any of his stained glass, but I bet they’re gorgeous. You could ask the folks at the University of Michigan Art Museum, and maybe the Clements Library. Might be a good place to start, at least!
I found four small Sketches of Kemnitz’s behind an old picture frame I purchased 40 years ago and was wondering is they are valuable or not.
One is of the old train depot, now the Gandy Dancer and the other 3 are of buildings I do no recognize.
I believe they may have been demolished.
Hi Denman,
I bet they’re valuable to someone; you just need to find who and sell them. Maybe talk to the Ann Arbor Art Center or the U-M Museum of Art.
The copyright on all Milton N. Kemnitz art is owned by his estate. A short memoir was published by Royal Fireworks Press and may be obtained at rfwp.com. The executor of his estate is Dr. T M Kemnitz who may be reached at or by telephoning 845 726-4444.
Thanks, Dr. Kemnitz!
Hi there, I bought a sketch print of MSU (Michigan State university) at a local goodwill and the bottom of the picture just had the name Kemnitz on it. I wonder if it might be his, but I don’t see any mention of and work he did at MSU. Any ideas?
I used to own a store in downtown Ann Arbor called “Over the Rainbow”.. aside from him painting a life-size Rainbow on the outside of the store at the manor house we hired I hired melt to do a poster in an arc shape of unicorns called” Unicorn Fantasia”. I never received the proof of that poster and have been looking for it could somebody direct me to a relative of melts that could possibly see if he’s got that stashed in with some of his old files or artwork it’s in the shape of an arc it’s blue and it has unicorns all over it cascading over the ark. Thank you my number is 480 678 thousand in case anybody would like to call me
Hi Jeffrey:
See above comment from Dr. T. M. Kemnitz.
Maynard House not manor house. Also typo for Milt not melt. Oops
480 678 0000 jeff t
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I have an artists proof in color of a duck by Milt Kemnitz and wonder if it is the design he submitted for the national duck stamp contest. Would love to know.
I think I just bought one of his drawings of a dentistry building at Goodwill yesterday. It’s framed and has his signature and is in great condition. The frame has an Ann Arbor sticker on the back.
I have a small framed pen and ink that he gave my now-deceased father-in-law many years ago. They were good friends. I think it’s painted in shards of black and gray watercolor. The subject may be a Jewish house of worship. I don’t live in the area so I’m not sure.