Meet Max Damian

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Max Damian. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Max below.

Hi Max, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?

“I get my resilience from my upbringing and, most of all, from my mother. Growing up as a queer, gay male in Argentina in the 90s was incredibly challenging. Society constantly tried to fit me into preexisting boxes and suppress my individuality before I even had the chance to define it. I was raised in a divided household in Buenos Aires—my mother was a progressive, free-spirited woman, while my father was deeply traditional and religious. Their opposing worldviews eventually led to a divorce when I was eight. After that, my father slowly disappeared from my life, and my mother became the sole caregiver of five young children. Watching her navigate life with strength, grace, and unwavering courage through adversity showed me what true resilience looks like. Her example has been the foundation for many of the choices I’ve made and the inner strength I’ve developed throughout my life.”

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

As a performing artist, I’ve spent much of my career navigating the difficult balance between staying true to my artistic voice and making a living. The performing arts industry can be limiting, often demanding compromise in order to fit into predefined molds. That’s why my newest project—a photography book—feels particularly significant. It represents a moment where I’ve created something on my own terms: honest, unfiltered, and completely free of compromise.

During the early years of my photography journey, I consciously avoided photographing aerialists. At the time, I didn’t want to merge my two creative worlds. But it was the encouragement of my community—friends, fellow artists, and collaborators—that pushed me to explore the intersection. And what I found was incredibly liberating.

Inspired by the forms, textures, and colors found in nature, this book is the result of blending performance and visual art into something new. Each image uses fabric, movement, and suspended bodies to explore physical and visual language—and to question rigid ideas around masculinity, femininity, and form.

This collection is deeply personal. It’s a reflection of growth, transformation, and a deep curiosity to push boundaries. Every photograph challenges societal norms while honoring beauty, vulnerability, and strength. I’m especially proud of the collaborative spirit that shaped this work. The artists I worked with brought so much generosity and talent—this wouldn’t have been possible without them.

This book is the metamorphosis of my creative identity into something unbound—and it’s been my dream to share it.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

One of the most important realizations I’ve had is that in art, there is no “right” or “wrong.” Art is not a science to be solved—it’s a personal, emotional language we create ourselves. I believe deeply that we must stop seeking external validation before we allow ourselves to create. Perfection is a myth that often holds us back. At some point, we have to cross that internal bridge, let go of the need for affirmation, and simply begin.

That’s my first piece of advice: give yourself permission. Don’t wait to be told your work matters. Start where you are, with what you have, and make something real.

Second, I’d say: develop your voice. There are incredible schools and mentors out there that can teach you the technical side of any craft. And yes, technique is important. But identity—that unique voice only you can bring to the work—is what makes it art. That’s something no one else can give you. It has to come from within.

And finally, perhaps most importantly: remember your responsibility. I believe artists have a duty to push boundaries, to inspire others, and to reimagine what’s possible. Art is a form of resistance, a catalyst for change, and a space where new ideas are born. Creativity is a gift—and it’s our job to nourish it, protect it, and share it.

My hope is that my book is not just a reflection of my imagination, but an invitation into your own. If you’re just starting out: be bold, be curious, and most of all—be free.

Thanks so much for sharing all these insights with us today. Before we go, is there a book that’s played in important role in your development?

One book that has had a profound impact on me is Millennial Samurai by George J. Chanos. It’s more than just a book—it’s a guide filled with clarity, compassion, and purpose. What struck me most is how it’s written with such genuine care, as if the author truly wants to uplift the reader and provide real tools for navigating both personal growth and the challenges of the modern world.

The book encourages independent thinking—something I value deeply, especially as an artist. It’s filled with insights that help you become not just a better thinker, but a better human being. It challenges you to rise above your obstacles, to look inward for strength, and to embrace change rather than fear it.

What I found most powerful is the underlying message: that we each have the capacity—and the responsibility—to create a meaningful life and contribute positively to the world around us. That’s a truth I carry into my art, and into how I try to live.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.verseconcepts.com
• Instagram: @Max_Damian_Photography
• Youtube: @maxintheair
• Other: Tik Tok @maxintheair

Image Credits

Max Damian Photography