Arthur Emillien Deshaies was born on July, 6 1920 in Providence, RI to his French parents, Arthur & Emillien Vue Deshaies. He was educated at the Cooper Union Art School in New York until the outbreak of WWII. During the war he was a paratrooper and an official war artist. After his service he received his BFA from Rhode Island School of Design in 1948 and his MFA from Indiana University in 1950.

Arthur taught at Indiana University, the Ogunquit School of Painting and Sculpture, the Pratt Institute in NYC and most recently as Professor of Art at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL from 1963 until his retirement in 1989. He was the recipient of many fellowships and grants including the Fulbright Scholarship, the Tiffany Fellowship, and grants from the MacDowell Colony, the Yaddo Colony and the Guggenheim Foundation.

Arthur's works are exhibited and represented in most of the major collections and museums in Europe and North & South America. He is recognized as one of the world's leading printmasters and painters. In addition to his love for art, Arthur is remembered for his love of life. He cherished his time with his family and friends. He loved fishing, gardening, music, traveling and visits with his friends at his favorite home away from home, the Middle Tyger Library.

Arthur Deshaies died on July 30, 2011 in Duncan, South Carolina.