Meet Maxx Slater | Visual Artist (Oil, Acrylic, and Watercolor)

We had the good fortune of connecting with Maxx Slater and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Maxx, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
Work life balance is one of the biggest things to consider and pay attention to in really any career, not just art. For me, it took awhile to realize how important separating work and my personal life is, especially since I was working out of my one bedroom apartment Downtown. Being a one-man operation, I would have paintings at different stages of completion all around my apartment, where I would also do all of my administrative work like managing my website and social media accounts, as well as scheduling, budgeting, and email correspondence. All of my work started to turn into distractions, taking me away from what I would be trying to focus on. If I was answering emails, I would be distracted by one of my paintings that I hadn’t finished yet, and vice versa. It came to a point where there was no separation between my living and working space, and it really started to block my creativity, which is no good for an artist! Recently I acquired an amazing studio space super close to my apartment. Even though it’s close to home, being able to have all of my work in a separate space has done wonders for my creativity. Keeping things separate allows for a clear mind and the ability to focus on the actual task at hand.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I spent a long time trying to figure out what it was that I wanted to do with my life, and I traveled quite a few avenues in my search. Everything from bartending, to administrative work, I even tried software development, but nothing ever felt like it was truly for me. During a pretty intense depressive episode a couple of years ago, I decided to buy my first sketchbook and pencil set online, just to take my mind off of everything. What I didn’t realize at the time, was that that purchase would be the beginning of my career as an artist. Having something to focus on and work hard on to improve helped me deal with my depression and anxiety, as I was able to express all of those feelings in a way that I hadn’t been able to before. It’s been a journey full of ups and downs for sure, but I’m thankful every day that I was able to find something to help keep my depression at bay, and a way to express myself that resonates and makes an impact on the lives of others as well. I’ve created things that I’m proud of and am excited to show the world in the past couple of years, which is something I didn’t think I was capable of until I put my mind to it, and I can’t wait to see where my career takes me!

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I would have them try and visit on a weekend that we would be able to explore Franklinton Friday, or an event that one of the many galleries in town were hosting. Columbus has such a vibrant and exciting Arts and Culture scene, and there are so many hidden spots to check out. I love live music and the energy of venues that have great bands, so a definite spot would be The Walrus located Downtown on Main Street. The food is killer and they always have a great band on Saturdays, and they have an amazing Drag Brunch once a month as well. There are so many cool places in Columbus, I could go on for pages about my favorite spots!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to thank 83 Gallery in Franklin Park, and ArtNewCo in Columbus, Ohio for everything they’ve done to support my career as an artist, and many others like me in Columbus!

83 Gallery was the first place to give me a shot at displaying my work! As someone who deals with frequent anxiety, it as the first place I really felt comfortable putting my work out there, from the location in an up and coming arts neighborhood, to the staff Geoff and his assistant Sophia, who made and continue to make the process fun and accessible.

ArtNewCo is a gallery/consignment shop Downtown Columbus, and I’m so thankful for the opportunities presented to me! The owner Hannah and her husband Jeff have been super supportive, and always have an event lined up or a new connection to meet, and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support during such a pivotal time in my career!

Website: https://maxxmadeartworks.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/maxxmade.artworks