Sergei Alexander Nelke (December 14 1894 — August 14 1974) was an Estonian-American artist in the mid to late 20th century. He is primarily known as marine and landscape artist specializing in square rigged sailing vessels. Nelke was the middle of three sons to Karl and Anna Nelke. His father was a carriage maker and worked on the ceremonial carriage that was built for Queen Victoria when she visited Russia in 1894. After completing his secondary education in 1910 Nelke began his career as a seaman working as a ships carpenter eventually rising to the rank of 2nd Mate. Nelke became an expert ships carpenter and rigger and acquired a thorough knowledge of the sea and sailing vessels from all over the world. Nelke would spend over fifteen years at sea before finally settling in Brooklyn NY near his brother Waldemar. He became a naturalized citizen of the United States in 1945.