Max Cole is an abstract minimalist painter. She was born in 1937 and she is still making art today. She is well-known for her geometric work in black, white, grey and earthy tones. Integrity is one of the core values in her work and this is reflected in the persistence with which she works: for decades now she has been working on clearly recognisable, calm, minimalist paintings.
The painting Montana has hardly ever been on display to the general public. Max Cole kept it in her private collection for a long time. It was only exhibited once before in her gallery and was then sold to a private art collector who hung it in his home. Having said this, this artwork has been at the centre of attention of many people. It was used as a prop in Woody Allen’s film Stardust Memories in 1980. In one of the scenes in the film Max Cole’s painting Montana is hanging on a wall in a New York apartment. The painting is a silent witness to Woody Allen arguing with his partner.