Alexander Nelke was an Estonian-American artist, best known for his maritime and landscape paintings. Nelke was born in the Estonian village of Vihula, where he spent his childhood and early adolescence. At the age of sixteen, Nelke began working on ships as a carpenter and second mate. After more than a decade at sea, Nelke decided to join his brother in the United States, who had settled in Brooklyn, New York. An expert in ships, Nelke began painting ships with great success. In New York, Nelke was seen as a leading maritime painter.

Nelke exhibited his paintings throughout the 1930s and 1940s, participating in a number of group shows. While Nelke was not showing in avant-garde galleries or museums, art associations like the Society of Independent Artists praised him. Nelke also exhibited with the Salons of America.

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