Mike Maxwell
Presenting Mike Maxwell from El Cajon,California you can see his site at www.mikemaxwellart.com
Mike also has a blog you can view here.
Teachers and Students: you can download a worksheet on Mike’s interview here.
Mike works mainly on Acrylic on hand made birch panels, a unique approach.
Born in 1979 San Diego based artist Mike Maxwell has built a loyal following with his signature stone-blue faces, gloomy churches and beautiful windmills. Self-taught and continuously improving in his work, the poetic dreamy scenes examine humanity, conceptuality, genetics and consciousness. With subtle changes in both theme and process, Maxwell has sharpened his skill providing more depth in his current work. Maxwell’s choice of color is deliberate and with purpose reflecting a lack of race and ambiguity in the stone-blue faced pieces. The work has a lot to do with his personal re-education and a desire to learn and understand things that are so prevalent in our society but are often forgotten by the masses. Focusing his work around the human experience, themes of religion, sex and science captivates our attention in these acrylic beauties. Mikes work has been shown nation wide and over seas at galleries in Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Japan, London, and Australia. Mikes work is described as subrealisim.
Mike, what are you currently working on?
I have a bunch of shows coming up. I have a new print being released through Friends and Co. out of Bristol England. That is available now. I’m in The Helsinki Biennial I also have some stuff at Studio 27 28 in Philly in November I’m in a group show at Distinction Gallery that was curated by Kelly Vivanco in December. I’m also starting work for 2 solo show s next year at The Shooting Gallery and at M Modern Gallery both in California.
Is there one word to describe your current works?
Disobedience
How did you get into art?
My Mother and Grandfather were both talented artists, I did two landscape paintings with my Grandfather at a very young age that had a lasting impact on me. I always wanted to make things. My Mother always challenged me to improve my craftsmanship and that is something that has stuck with me my whole life.
What did you do before becoming an artist?
I’ve always been an artist, but I have worked a ton of odd jobs, I’ve done graphic design, tattooed for awhile, lots of some how art related jobs.
What is your earliest memory of art?
My moms murals on our bedroom walls.
Was art a “thing” that was encouraged in your family?
Yes and has continued throughout the years. They have been my biggest supporters.
Did the place where you grew up have an influence?
I would assume. I think our geographic location on this earth always has an influence in everything we do and everything we are.
What or who inspires your art?
Everything inspires me, the whole gamut of emotions obviously, lately ignorance has been a big inspiration. Art always inspires me, everyone out there working hard doing what they love inspires me. Independence inspires me.
How important is art for you?
It’s as important as everything else I enjoy in my life. Financially its how I support myself, but if it didn’t I would still deem it important. As far as others art, I feel like my day would be lacking somewhat if I didn’t see new art everyday. I see art in many things, so luckily for me, that never happens.
Some say the lifespan of an “artist” post educationally is about five years, any thoughts on that?
What about artists who never stop being educated? Or does this statistic only apply to those who are “formally” educated? If you are a true artist your artistic lifespan last your lifespan.
Tell us about your connection to your subject matter, way of working, concepts etc?
Most of my work starts as a research project, I learn as much as I can about a particular topic, then make work based on what I have learned.
What has been a turning point in your career thus far and why?
Working with Shepard Fairey back in 2000. I spent two years working with him, Dave Kinsey, and a handful of other talented artists for two years. I learned a hell of a lot in those two years.
All artists seem to have struggles, tell us about any you have had.
I think everyone has had struggles in some way. That’s how we learn new things and adapt. I hate to complain about having it rough because there is always someone else out there in the world who has had it twice as rough as you. Its better not to whine about it.
Musical influences?
I’m listening to a lot of Roky Erickson right now, The Juno soundtrack has had a lot of play as of late. Bill Callahan. Modest Mouse.
Do you hope the viewer will “get” what you are trying to communicate?
I’d rather the viewer find something in the work that they relate to on their own, regardless of whether they “get it” or not. Unfortunately I often find that the viewer is more interested in being told how to “get it”, instead of figuring things out on your own. But that sort of parallels the society we live in these days.
Want to ask Mike a question about hiw work? Check out the comments link below, then ask away!
Compiled and edited by Steve Gray Contemporary Australian Artist
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Mike I love the blog, the photo’s of the work you did at the show in the lead up to it, the guy painted straight on the wall, GREAT!
And the pets!
(The answers to the interview were great too!)
[...] can read more of Mikes interview here… November 19, 2008 | Filed Under [...]