Trustee: Karen LeShufy of The Marcel C. Salinas Trust
Karen LeShufy met Marcel when she moved to Paris to represent her family's art businesses, working with artists and commissioning limited edition original lithographs for their fine art collectors clubs in the U.S.A.
Marcel's extraordinary talents as a painter, lithographer and photographer made him one of the most sought-after artists in Paris. He created paintings and editions of his own art, as
well as supervising and assisting numerous artists with their lithographs. Marcel’s unique lithographic skills were legendary amongst the artworld insiders, admired by artists, printers, museum curators and gallery directors. He was always ready to explain or assist other artists in this challenging technique.
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Marcel and Karen would frequently meet in the print ateliers. Marcel took her under his tutelage. He would explain each of his artworks and they would talk about the subtle nuances, the ambiance and emotional response for the viewer. When Karen questioned how he achieved a specific effect, he would explain his ingenious techniques.
Often during the lengthy French lunch breaks, they would grab a sandwich and head to a museum, visiting and re-visiting the museums, special exhibits and art galleries.
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Marcel would stop in front of a painting and describe the artist’s use of color and form, the techniques to create an effect. Incredibly well read and ever curious, he would tell the history work and the artist’s life…what was it like at for the artist and the people living at that time. Sometimes going to look at an artwork again, he always had something new to add.
These lunchtime escapes would begin with just the two of them but frequently ended with a large group of fascinated art lovers asking to join. For Karen, each time was like discovering a treasure chest of jewels.
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Karen and Marcel worked on a number of “special projects” over the years. One of the first was when Karen arranged for the company to publish a special series of 3 limited edition lithographs with the Société of the Friends of Toulouse-Lautrec from works in the Toulouse-Lautrec Museum in Albi, France.
All parties involved admired his collaboration with Picasso and the "Imaginary Portraits" and insisted that these lithographs could only be created by Marcel. When these limited editions were finished, each proof was numbered and hand-signed by Salinas with the Red Ink Stamp of the Société des Amis de Toulouse-Lautrec.
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Almost 20 years later, Karen met The Count de Toulouse-Lautrec, at age 91, he was the head of the family. They discussed re-creating 2 more paintings as limited-edition fine art lithographs and the Count would sign each proof.
The Count appreciated Marcel’s paintings and was familiar with the earlier museum editions. He felt that no other artist had ever captured the spirit and feeling of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec’s paintings as Salinas. He was insistent that the project could only be completed if Marcel Salinas was the artist.
Over the many years Karen worked with Marcel, they became and remained great friends.
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Today, each time Karen visits a museum or art gallery, she imagines she hears Marcel telling her to look closely and guiding her eyes around the painting. He instilled in her his admiration and enthusiasm for art and for the artist who created the work.
Karen is honored to be the Trustee of the Marcel C. Salinas Trust. She is forever grateful to Marcel and considers herself to have been fortunate to have known him and the beautiful artworks he created.