Anthony May finds inspiration in what he feels gives a city its character: the mesh of colors, cultures, graffiti, the effects of eroding signage, the brassy free-form rhythms of jazz, and other such varied textures of urban life. His paintings are often a vibrant, action-packed amalgamation of hand-scratched marks and symbols, patchy over painting, and mixed-and-matched found materials in rich bright colors. Another source of inspiration for May is the trajectory of child development he observes in the growth of his children.

May begins his paintings from meticulously observed preparatory sketches, but he relies on instinct to carry the work forward from there. As a result of their own developmental stages, the finished works become diaries of a process that maintains an open spontaneity and freshness.

Educated at Pratt Institute in New York, Anthony May now lives and works in Alameda, California.