Words by Evan La Ruffa

Max Petrone’s ability to capture the energy of a personality in a moment is uncanny. That knack for making a classic sneaker feel like an icon, or conveying the sarcasm of his bearded phonograph friend, it all has an amazing life-force to it. Usually mixed media on canvas, the textures are also emblematic of the richness herein. In 2003 he graduated from Renato Cottini Art School, and now calls Casalette home after having spent time in Turin as well. His bio is in-depth, and his approach to the work is intense. By focusing on the facial features of his subjects, he’s been able to do an incredible job of making the emotion of a fleeting moment utterly palpable to the viewer. The drippy endings of each piece also add to the overall demeanor of the work, somewhat romanticizing the ruggedness of each character, highlighting imperfection in all its glory.

Whether yelling heads, girls biting each other or a fresh pair of kicks, Max Petrone has surely found his artistic voice. With as many seconds that pass us by without a thought, Petrone’s paintings feel like an honest look at who we are in our most colorful moments.