Biography
Installations, Videoworks, Paintings
Mark ‘Max’ Maxwell is a film maker, painter and installation artist.
His first job in the artworld was working as an assistant to artist & musician Brian Eno on a series of projects relating to set and lighting designs for live musical performances entitled ‘Opal Evenings’. The designs would incorporate sculptural suspended forms with light projections.
A series of projects followed with Maxwell creating concepts for pop videos, contemporary dance, exhibitions and also live events such as Amnesty International Concert (Paris) and Roger Waters (Pink Floyd) world tours. Other creative design projects include immersive experiences for Madame Tussauds.
More recently he has focused on film-making and his recent shorts ‘Naturaleza Muerta’ a story about a soldier in the Spanish Civil War and ‘Voices from the Great War’ an art-docu film commissioned by the Museum of London about boy soldiers, have been screened internationally, including festivals in London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro and Los Angeles.
A common theme in Mark Maxwell’s art practice is the transformation of materials. Recent video installations involve the transformation of metals using the technique of electrolysis. A process first explored by the artist in 1995.
His video works include a series entitled “Electra’ which depicts a crucifix undergoing reverse electroplation. A version was shortlisted for the recent Open Prize for video.
Recent exhibitions include a screening of the process, within the cloister of St Bartholomew the Great, one of the oldest churches in London and survivor of the Great Fire. The projection screen consisted of 200 kgs of candle wax created ‘site specifically’ for the exhibition. In 2018 he a solo show at the No20arts Gallery in Islington London.
His paintings are influenced directly from his video experiments; oil paints and metal leaf are randomly arranged and gilded on to aluminium panels.
The appearances of the artworks seemingly in a state of flux evoke abstract landscapes undergoing a chemical patination.
His artworks are in collections all over the world.
Opal evening
Whilst working as an assistant to Brian Eno, he constructed a suspended kinetic sculpture for a live performance at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, London. This concert was called Opal Evening and showcased musicians on Brian Eno’s music label ‘Opal Ltd’.
Musicians included Harold Budd, Michael Brook, Laraaji, Roger Eno and John Bonner.
Coloured lights were projected onto the moving sculpture and also images from Russell Mills’ artwork.
Brian Eno
Harold Budd
Queen Elizabeth Hall London
Laraaji
Roger Waters (Pink Floyd)
Roger Waters
In the Flesh tour USA
Cochise
In the Flesh tour USA
Radiohead
Jimmy Page & Robert Plant
Amnesty International
Amnesty International Concert
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House
Exhibitions
SOLO SHOWS
Protean – No20arts Arts Gallery London 2022
Duality – No20arts Arts Gallery London 2018
Open Gallery – Open Prize Video Art – London, 2011
Al Hilo de la Memoria Museo Pedro Gilabert Spain
Paradise Lost – John Milton Festival –St. Giles Cripplegate
Positive Negative + – St Bartholomew the Great , London
Urban Elements – Arts Depot – London – Solo Show
GROUP SHOWS
No20arts Gallery – Summer Show 2020, No20arts Gallery – Landscapes 2019,
Raven Row Gallery – Gone with the Wind – Group Show 2011 Element – Video Showcase – Lux Cinema – London,
Faultline Group show Bow Arts
Firbob & Peacock Gallery Cheshire – Solo Show,
Unnatural histories, Group Show Bow Arts
Malaga Expo – Malaga Spain
Manchester Art Show 2006 – Artsquare – GMEX Manchester
Group show 2005 – Gallery 93 – London, The Media Centre – London 2004 Ralph Lauren – London 2004, Berkeley Homes Brewery Square Clerkenwell London The Kings Chelsea London 2004, Urban Interiors 2004 – Business Design Centre – London
Group Show – The Media Centre –London, Urban Interiors 2003 – Commonwealth Institute
Site specific Sculpture installation – BPI – London, MIMI – Old Street – London Seven Seven Gallery – London, Area 2 – London – Solo Show
Art Attack Gallery – London, Bow Arts Open Studio Show – 2000 – 2007 Art 98 Business Design Centre – London, Barclays Wealth
Solo Shows
Maxwell has had solo shows at No20arts Gallery, London, the artsDepot, London and Museo Gilabert, Almeria, Spain.
