● About Us

MAX lives at the intersection of artistic creation, scientific inquiry, and technology. We catalyze, produce, and deploy groundbreaking live-art (live and immersive) experiences created by collaborative teams of artists, scientists, and creative technologists at the intersection of artistic expression, scientific inquiry, and technology.

We foster collaborations between storytellers, choreographers, performers, scientists, and creative technologists to expand artistic expression and amplify scientific insight while exploring its impact on our shared human experience. We invest in these artists and thought leaders by providing financial, logistical, and community support, ensuring they have the necessary resources to execute their creative vision and bring their work to life. This includes direct funding, access to physical production spaces, and the technical infrastructure needed to realize ambitious projects.

COMMIT

Photo of COMMIT by Kate Ladenheim (Alycia Kravitz, 2023) 

● Our Mission

We fulfill our mission with a three-pillar framework: MAXmachina, MAXlive and MAXforum

We originate and develop new and ongoing projects in our MAXmachina laboratory where artists, scientists, and technologists can experiment, refine their ideas, and push creative boundaries. This includes workshops, peer critiques, and preview showcases to provide deep feedback, iterative creation, and meaningful cross-disciplinary exchange. By offering dramaturgical guidance, production expertise, and access to collaborative relationships, we help shape ambitious, interdisciplinary works from concept to realization.

We present finished works to the public through our MAXlive series, reaching audiences across New York and beyond. These works represent the culmination of our artistic mission. We collaborate with institutions and venues worldwide to deploy and tour them, ensuring they reach broader audiences and continue to inspire critical conversation.

Additionally, MAXforum hosts an independent salon series, featuring our creators alongside industry luminaries. These gatherings amplify the dialogue surrounding the work, offering deeper reflection, discussion, and engagement with ideas and community that extend far beyond the performance space.

At MAX, we believe that the intersection of art, science, and technology is a powerful and borderless catalyst for change. Our work is driven by a commitment to spark curiosity, provoke thought, and create transformative experiences that shape our future. We seek to expand the boundaries of what art can achieve and how it can inspire meaningful action in the world and reflection on our role here.

Lizardly

Photo of Lizardly by Heidi Boisvert and Kat Mustatea (Maria Baranova, 2021) 

● Our Culture

MAX is committed to increasing public awareness of science and technology through the arts.

We aim to reach a broad community through presentations that defy disciplinary boundaries by fostering collaboration and engaging audiences as participants. We work to cultivate an artistic workplace and presentation environment where all staff, creatives, partners, and audiences feel welcome and free to be their full selves. We are committed to supporting a community that reflects a range of spaces in which our work is cultivated and presented.

Media Art Xploration is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Our organization does not discriminate on the basis of an individual’s race, sex, age, color, creed, ethnicity, national origin, citizenship, socio-economic background, disability status, religion, marital or partnership status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, past incarceration status, veteran or military status and any other attributes protected by law.

Meet the Team

Our Board of Directors

David Bianciardi

Nancy Eswein

Wendy Ettinger

Carol Klein

Carl Schoonover

Dale Matschullat

Elizabeth Grayer

Eric Van Speights

Kay Matschullat

Our Board of Advisors

Dr.  Carl Schoonover 

Vero Bollow

Rachel Chanoff

Dr. Sanjoy Som

Dr. Jack Mostow

Lucia Pietroiusti

Robert Cowan, MD, FAAN

Dr. Penelope Boston

Dr. Felipe Orduña Bustamante

Dr. Mari Umpierre

Dr. Lila Davachi

Dr. Sam Gershman

Dr. Tom Griffiths

Sally Katz

Sam Cuddeback

Paul Roossin

Wendy Ettinger

Anne Kreamer

David Biancardi

Gabriel Gaster

Jared Goldberg

Dr. William Brady

Adaora Udoji

Dr. David Haskell

Kathryn Arffa

Dr. Andrew Farnsworth

Dr. Wendy Erb

Dr. Michelle Fournet

Dr. Vijay Ramesh

Dr. Leo Peichl

Dr. Andrew Guess

Dr. William Brady

Our Venue, Educational, and Program Partners

Thank You to Our Institutional Supporters

A&S

Alfred P. Sloan Foundation

JetB

jetBlue

EF

Ettinger Foundation

CoA

New York Council of the Arts

SS

Science Sandbox

Be the Driver of Our Mission

Support Our Work

See What We Are Up To

Read our Press Release