By Albert Amateau
Albert Wade, a painter who lived and worked in his Chelsea studio on Seventh Ave. for more than 45 years, died Dec. 14 at the age of 83.
He had been in ill health for the past few years, said his friend Claire Clark.
A member of the Federation of Modern Painters and Sculptors, he showed his works in exhibits sponsored by the federation in various public spaces. He recently had a show of his work in Greenville, S.C., at the Mary Prayton Gallery, where he sold many of his paintings.
“I was bowled over by his work,” Prayton told the Greenville Journal last year.
Born in Chicago, Albert Wade and his seven brothers and sisters moved with their parents to St. Louis. He served in the Army Air Corps during World War II and, after his discharge at the age of 23, studied in Paris at the Academie de la Grande Charmiere. He then went to Spain and studied painting in Barcelona.
Wade came to New York about 50 years ago, worked in advertising and painted after hours. He experimented with abstract and pop art before arriving at what he liked to call “dreamlike realism.” Many of his paintings are based on photos that he took while walking Manhattan’s streets. Musicians playing together and bicycle riders are frequent subjects.
He became interested in Scientology several years ago and claimed to have met the founder, L. Ron Hubbard, and to have spent some time on a yacht with him, according to Clark.
Several nieces, nephews and grandnephews survive. A memorial service, with a Scientology minister presiding, will be announced later. The Greenwich Village Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
