Born in Germany, Fiene emigrated to the United States in 1912. After studying at the National Academy of Design in NYC and the Beaux-Arts Institute of Design, Fiene began his career as an artist in 1919 with an exhibition at the MacDowell Club. By 1925, his growing success allowed him and his younger brother Paul to build studios in Woodstock, New York. During this time, he painted mostly landscapes, then shifted to urban themes of architecture, industry, and transportation, often focusing on bringing out the humanity of a space while simultaneously deconstructing it into abstract shapes.
During a period of extensive travel both within the United States and abroad, Fiene's painting was influenced by abstract and figurative styles, particularly in Paris at L'Academie de La Grande Chaumiere, and in Italy. By the time he returned, Fiene had gained a distinguished reputation as a modern painter and he was offered several prestigious teaching positions around the country. He also served on numerous boards for art fundraising, such as the Tupperware Art Fund and the Artists Equity Association, and his Complete Guide to Oil Painting was published in 1964. Fiene died of a heart attack in Paris in 1965 -
From: Syracuse Universtity