Max Coronel's Portfolio

I explore the stories of transforming gender and identity, turbulent inner emotions, and accepting inner change. My work is centered around personal experiences influencing identity and self-expression. Based on my own journey with my own identity and having to accept it in a world where being gender non-conforming is made out to be disgusting and abominable by many, my surreal paintings depict myself as different characters dealing with all of the feelings I have experienced. The creatures portrayed and the environments that surround them evoke feelings of isolation, loneliness, and misery. The representation of these characters within turbulent landscapes is a recurring plot point in my work and serves as a way to confront my internal fears. Although these characters embody different aspects of myself, their transformative journeys through changing environments are universal. Everyone has a story that can be projected upon my characters. Juxtaposing the painterly qualities of German Expressionism and Surrealism with the illustrative characters and graphic novel word boxes informs my unique style. This combination of influences and inspirations has allowed the exploration of self within the mind to take form on the canvas.