We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maxx Valentine. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maxx below.
Maxx , thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Learning the craft is often a unique journey from every creative – we’d love to hear about your journey and if knowing what you know now, you would have done anything differently to speed up the learning process.
Spray painting has been a long standing fascination of mine. In fact, as part of an art introduction trip, I led the older adults of an independent living community to see street art! Though I didn’t know it at the time, it would take my return years later to a community festival where I met the artist Giovannie [@justcreatedit] painting a beautiful portrait in front of the studio I would eventually call home: Grand ArtHaus. Nervous, but enthusiastic, I took the advise from my new found peer, and the encouragement he gave me to participate in my very first live painting event.
There was a time, however, where I thought painting in a live setting in front of others an impossibility. But, calming my nerves, and rising to my own challenge, I continued to participate in more and more events. However, I needed a place where I could truly hone my skills, and as luck would have it, this came in the form of the weekly meetup hosted at “Just Blaze”. This weekly art meetup at the staple location in Phoenix, was no coincidence; it was a collaborative effort between Giovannie, Nyla Lee [@nyla.lee], and myself.
I will always be grateful for every night I spent amongst my art, and more so the time amongst the great artists I now see myself standing besides.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
While art has always been a passion and an interest of mine, believe it or not, there was a time where this was not the case. It wasn’t until late 2021 where I found new resolve and repurposed the name Maxx Valentine (or Maxx for anyone that prefers!) Before I introduced myself as an artist and muralist here in Phoenix, AZ though, there really was a time where I had lost that love for creating. Before an artist, I am like every other person who has had doubts, and has second guessed themselves. To those artists who feel the same, please know that there isn’t that “one” magic thing that will get you out there, but I can assure you that it is within you.
With that said, spray paint and acrylics are my tools of choice, and colorful murals and portraits are my preferred trade. You can often find me painting vibrant women of color and wonderfully cute kitty cats, so please don’t ever hesitate to come say hi!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The most valuable thing I have gained has definitively been the great and talented artists I have been fortunate enough to meet. I’m glad that going out and seeing these great artists in the field has not lost its novelty and they continue to inspire me to get out there every single day.
The second most rewarding thing that came from being a creative has been the new voice I’ve found. There really isn’t anything like letting your imagination run wild and truly putting yourself out there.
The third, is the collective I have been so fortunate to be a part of: Grand ArtHaus. There could not be a collection of creatives that are as welcoming and supportive to their community, and we would love for anyone interested to attend one of our many events!
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
The particular goal that I have for myself is getting more of my art into the world for people to see, especially more black art in Phoenix. There are not many black street artists here. Phoenix has murals of historical black people, but majority of them are not created by black artists. I feel that really needs to change and I would love to be in that conversation to make this happen. A nice chunk of the murals I have created have been of black femme presenting people. I want to do a lot more dynamic murals and have the representation of black people being able to see themselves on these walls.
Contact Info:
- Website: maxxvalentine.com
- Instagram: maxx.vart
Image Credits
Personal Photo done by With the Flicks @with.the.flicks Art pics taken by me
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