Today we’d like to introduce you to David Maxwell.
David, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Growing up, my biggest hobby was music. I played piano and guitar. Because I was from Chicago, I went to Pitchfork and Lollapalooza every year. I was obsessed with knowing the newest music. In college, I discovered TechCrunch and started to learn about the technology industry. I even tried to start my own company with a few friends.
After my sophomore year, I dropped out of college to intern at Square. Before my internship even ended, I signed on to be one of the first 100 full-time employees. It was an intense four years with 60-100 hour weeks. I’m proud of the work I put into everything, especially receipts and feedback on receipts, which haven’t changed since I left in 2014.
I was pretty burnt out after Square, so I took three months off to travel. That’s when I started to appreciate and collect art. I remember seeing a solo show by Louis Bourgeois of her cells in Munich. I got back to San Francisco, quickly grew tired of the city, and moved to LA to work on a fashion company trying to use magnets instead of buttons or zippers.
I started to collect more and more art and began to visit all the shows in LA. Then the pandemic hit, so I started to record unboxing videos, which was the birth of the channel. When everything opened back up, I began to switch from just unboxing to include opening and studio interviews with artists.
Working directly with artists to tell their story has become my favorite part of my practice. I just love art so much. I collect for the value it has to be for the work to be hanging on the wall. Yea, I do hope to own a collection I couldn’t afford, but I think most of it will be viewed as a stamp collection in the future.
My suggestion for anyone interested in collecting is to collect original art from living artists who make figurative work. This is where the magic happens.
Art becomes music. Art becomes technology. It’s a starting point for all these cultural moments. Support artists with stories that influence these other areas of our mindsets.
The channel I run puts out a new art video every 2-3 days. Follow along on Instagram or TikTok for 1 minute long videos. Follow YouTube for 5-10 minute long videos. I also post art opening suggestions once a week on Instagram and through my email list, so you know what is happening in the art world in LA that weekend.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Being self-directed for almost 10 years has been a blessing and a curse. I’ve spent years on projects that never see the light of day. When things do work out, it’s truly amazing, but there are so many things that don’t end up happening. It can be hard to find motivation and keep going. I can work too much and, therefore, isolate myself at times. This has put a burden on my relationships. I don’t have children. I’m not married. I’ve always prioritized my individual journey and contribution above all else. It can be lonely, but it’s always been worth it.
I’ve always had to prioritize my mental health in order to meet these challenges. I’ve been in weekly therapy for seven years, and I owe so much of my success to this practice.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
To pay the bills, I mainly angel, seed and series-a invest in tech companies. This affords me to not need to sell artwork and to focus on making art videos and collecting art.
My videos are an extension of my collection of art. No one is paying me to make these videos. I just make videos about what I’m interested in. In fact, the channel started as an unboxing channel for the artwork I was already collecting. It’s grown into a place where I get to interview artists at their studios and during their shows at galleries. It’s fun to share my art collection whenever someone visits my home, and this channel creates a digital space where anyone can learn about art in LA through videos. I’m proud I’m able to add to the art narrative.
I post a new video every three days and have new art content every day on my socials. I cover the LA scene and post new schedules every week for new openings at galleries.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I help produce bronzes for artists. I’ve worked with Austyn Taylor, Kristen Liu-Wong, Luke Pelletier, and Albert Reyes. There are four new bronzes currently in progress at the foundry being made. Normally, I fund two bronzes and keep one while the artist keeps the other. If you’re an artist interested in making a bronze, just reach out through my Instagram. I make my own art, too. I love making flowers. I make flower sculptures out of wood and cardboard. I made flower paintings out of spray paint and canvas. I also make some ceramics sometimes. How could I not dip my toes in the water if I spend so much time thinking about art?
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.art-alerts.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/davidmaxwell/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbgErndWfKWj0fYb1763G2Q
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@artalerts
Image Credits
Me in white shirt at Meegan Barnes show photographing Meegan Barnes and husband, Raffi. (Taken by Monica Philpott) Me at home in front of collection. Each art piece has a different maker. (Taken by Clarisse Abelarde) Me at home with dog in front of my own artwork. (Taken by Clarisse Abelarde) Photograph of my art collection (Taken by Clarisse Abelarde) Photography of me playing the piano (Taken by Clarisse Abelarde) Two photos of me in pink shirt admiring Cathy Akers work. (Taken by Clarisse Abelarde)
