Today we’d like to introduce you to Max Gleason.
Hi Max, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I’ve been making art since before I can remember. My mom has a better recollection of my earliest art endeavors than I do. Art has always been my means of making sense of self and world. Painting is my meditation, my prayer. My studio is where I go to be with the sacred—it is a temple in this sense.
Art has helped me heal major traumas and celebrate deepest loves.
At this point in my life I find myself looking outward, to see how I might help facilitate the artistic expression of others. Thus far I have done this through hosting what I call “Art Medicine” workshops, and starting a gallery called Indah Gallery, to serve as a platform for our local art community.
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?
I don’t think there is such a thing as a smooth road! And if the road feels too smooth, then maybe you’re not going in the right direction. Life is full of pain and hardship. It is through overcoming those hurdles that we grow and expand, both as artists and as human beings. Choosing the life of an artist is a choice with inbuilt challenges. Personally, I try to welcome every challenge as an opportunity to see something new.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I dwell in the imaginal. My compositions borrow from my lived experience as well as drawing upon the primordial archetypes that burble to the surface of consciousness during the painting process. I like to think that my paintings have one foot in each world—the here and now, and the ineffable realms of spirit. To bridge these worlds through art making is an absolute blast!
Are there any important lessons you’ve learned that you can share with us?
Stay open to criticism. If something hits a nerve, that means there’s something there to learn from.
Contact Info:
- Website: maxgleason.com. and indahgallery.org
- Instagram: aaron_maximilian_gleason and indah_syv
Image Credits
Cary Irving
Deborah Chadsey
