Max Bernardi

Artist + Max Bernardi

Max Bernardi’s favorite subject as a painter is musicians, which merges two of her greatest passions in life, music and art. She draws inspiration from the collaboration and improvisation of the New Orleans music scene, feeling it to be an invisible thread that draws the entire city together. Her choices for portraiture are not limited to the most established musicians among the scene, but also from the newly emerging talent and those lesser known, who have found their unique voice with less conventional instruments or approaches to playing. 

Max Bernardi first explored musical expression as the lead singer of a punk band, The Mire, while studying painting at Atlanta College of Art in 1988-89.  She continued writing songs and dabbling with the accordion and tongue drum in Big Pickle, then Sproing, while freelancing as a professional scenic artist for films, commercials, corporate trade show booths and events, and most significantly- murals for museum exhibitry, such as the “Water Works Museum” in Clanton, AL.  In 1994, she collaborated with Eve “Torchy” Warren to produce a burlesque variety show with a live band called, “GoGo & Torchy’s Taboo Revue”, one of the first of its kind since the vaudeville era.

In 1996, Max was inspired to move to the more culturally vibrant New Orleans. Her first professional projects were with Kern Sculpture, painting a large 3D cartoon alligator band for Orleans Casino in Las Vegas, and Spangenberg Studios, then Maloney Productions producing scenery and drops as large as 40’ x 60’ for Mardi Gras balls (1998-2004), simultaneously working as scenic charge at Southern Repertory Theatre (2002-2006).  Since 1998 to the present, she has also executed many murals for the Aquarium of the America’s Freeport-McMoran Changing Exhibit area, the Audubon Zoo, Insectarium, and Nature Center, along with designing and painting murals in many privately-owned homes and businesses.

While evacuated during Katrina, she felt called to play music again, and began teaching herself to play the guitar, and slowly music re-emerged into her life, however gradually. 

In 2007, an educational chapter of Ms. Bernardi’s life began when she was approached by Clarence Becknell, historian for Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club to lead two groups of high school art students in painting two educational murals, at McMain High School (2009) and Warren-Easton High School (2010), each with the theme of the historical contribution of the Buffalo Soldiers.  Soon after, she designed and led an educational mural project for the House of Blues Foundation with the theme, “New Orleans:  A Canvas for the Imagination”.  Ms. Bernardi has also had the pleasure of being selected to be the Artist in Residence at Isodore Newman School, where she researched, designed and painted two murals with their very talented and motivated students.

Some of her largest exterior projects have been painted at Walkertown Bus Terminal in Marrero, LA, Breaux Mart Grocery Store’s Magazine St. location, International House of Blues Foundation, and Gulf Coast Bank, to name a few.  She has also collaborated  with New Orleans muralist Jamar Pierre, on a mural called "Sign of the Times" in 2021, in which she painted the portrait of Ellis Marsalis.

While doing so, she has continued playing guitar, singing and writing songs for bands such as The Lushingtons, Max & the Trail Mix, and the Souvenaires, and has one solo CD out called, “Humble Beginnings”.


NEW ORLEANS 

Meet the Artists

Local art is the lifeblood of our culture and communities. We source work from hundreds of painters, muralists, sculptors, metal workers, printmakers, illustrators, photographers, and textile artists, every one of whom is part of your local community.

persimmons on a blue tile
Jacques Soulas Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Jacques Soulas
Bubbles at Brunch - Fine Art PRINT
Kristy Oustalet Duke Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Kristy Oustalet Duke
"Eliza"
Brett Henderson Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Brett Henderson
Bring Back Louisiana
Vitus Shell Mixed Media / Painting
MONROE
Vitus Shell
Magnified Field
Alanna Ali Painting
BATON ROUGE
Alanna Ali
"Trapped"
RANNIE HOWARD Painting
LOS ANGELES/KENNER
RANNIE HOWARD
Marsh Island
Jata Craighill Painting
GULF COAST
Jata Craighill
Rhapsody 2
Sadako Lewis Painting
DIAMONDHEAD
Sadako Lewis
French Quarter Stroll
Lyla Clayre Illustration / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Lyla Clayre
When the River Can't Wait to Reach the Ocean
Kat Ryalls Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Kat Ryalls
La ville se reveille (The city awakens)
Darlene Langendonk Art Impressions
Painting
NORTH SHORE
Darlene Langendonk
May 2024 Garden Blooms
Stephen Rooney Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Stephen Rooney
"Jacob's Ladder (Marie Laveau Visits Her Tomb)"
John Turner Painting
NEW ORLEANS
John Turner
Oak Tree (Red)
Connor McManus Mixed Media / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Connor McManus
Waiter/Waitress
Alexandra Kilburn Illustration / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Alexandra Kilburn
"Birds of a Feather: Cockatoo"
Stephanie Reed Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Stephanie Reed
Reflections 3
Antonio Ferachi Painting
PLAQUEMINE
Antonio Ferachi
seen
Jessica Strahan JHand Paints
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Jessica Strahan
Day Dreaming
Debbie Boyd Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Debbie Boyd
I’ll Have Raspberries, Please.
Cathie Stuckey Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Cathie Stuckey
Heron in the Mist Original Painting
Lorin Vieira Painting
BATON ROUGE
Lorin Vieira
Past Life
Jessie Chappuis Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Jessie Chappuis
Don't Lose Sight
Kris Muntan Painting
NORTHSHORE
Kris Muntan
Banana flower 2
Katie Kut Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Katie Kut
Off the porch
Patrick Henry Victory Arts
Painting
SLIDELL
Patrick Henry
Through It
Ben Hamburger Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Ben Hamburger
Harley Baby
Rise Delmar Ochsner Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Rise Delmar Ochsner
Place in The Middle
Emily Pullin Painting
RUSTON
Emily Pullin
Plated Oyster
Sarah Nelson Sarah Nelson Fine Art
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Sarah Nelson
Saint of Lost Causes
Sean Randall Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Sean Randall
Gator Hunters
Cassidy Breaux Painting
Cassidy Breaux
Flowers from my Daughter - Print
Nancy Rowe Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Nancy Rowe
The Neighborhood
Ella Albrecht Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Ella Albrecht
Blue Roots 1
Emma Fick Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Emma Fick
'You Know What the Ocean Is?' Fine Art Print
Heather Bird Harris Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Heather Bird Harris
The Promise
Mary Scinto Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Mary Scinto
Bird Watching
Ember Soberman Painting / Mixed Media
NEW ORLEANS
Ember Soberman
Delight
Natalie Acquistapace Painting
FOLSOM
Natalie Acquistapace
Meditation #6
Kristen Albrecht Mixed Media / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Kristen Albrecht
Temperatures Rising #17
claire gowdy Painting
BATON ROUGE, LA
claire gowdy
"Ancestral REcall" homage to Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
George McClements Painting
NEW ORLEANS
George McClements
Nelumbo
Danielle Keys Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Danielle Keys
A Snowbird's Winter
Michael Eble Painting
LAFAYETTE
Michael Eble
Wildlife
Mary Singleton Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Mary Singleton
Magnolia Madame II
Rayne Bories Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Rayne Bories
I Wish I Knew
Catherine Walker Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Catherine Walker
Terrance Strikes a Pose on Lafitte Street
Drew Cooke Mixed Media / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Drew Cooke
Louisiana Roseate Spoonbill in his Sanctuary
Caroline Youngblood Painting
MONROE
Caroline Youngblood
Emotional Fury #2
Donald Fontenot Painting
MANDEVILLE
Donald Fontenot
Wet Bread
Thomas Deaton Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Thomas Deaton
RedBean the Crawfish for Bring Back Louisiana
Adam Sambola Painting
SLIDELL
Adam Sambola
PIGGY BACK
Roz LeCompte Painting
BROUSSARD
Roz LeCompte
Le Bon Temp Roule
Nurhan Gokturk Illustration / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Nurhan Gokturk
Ritual
Virginia Candler Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Virginia Candler
A Minute To Himself
Emre Karaoglu Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Emre Karaoglu
Golden Hour
Anne Blenker Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Anne Blenker
The Golden Boat
Lee Morais Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Lee Morais
Wild Ferns, No 1
Rebecca Birtel Madura Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Rebecca Birtel Madura
Red Cloud 12.01
George Dolgy Painting
NEW ORLEANS
George Dolgy
Serenity Series. Lillies.
Anya Lincoln Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Anya Lincoln
Days Like This II
Cierra English Painting
BATON ROUGE
Cierra English
My people were fair and had sky in their hair
Johnny King Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Johnny King
Get the Shot! (Nutria)
Michael Slage Painting
HOUMA
Michael Slage
Clouds Uplifting
Daryl D. Johnson Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Daryl D. Johnson
I am an Island, custom framed
Josie Azuma Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Josie Azuma
Blown
Sean Clark Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Sean Clark
ADORNED III
Lori Sperier Mixed Media / Painting
COVINGTON
Lori Sperier
New Orleans Restaurant's
Connie Kittok Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Connie Kittok
Nightwork
Spencer Schulz Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Spencer Schulz
Dr. John
Toné Lowe Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Toné Lowe
Find Yourself There
Maggie Jones Boudreaux Painting
RUSTON
Maggie Jones Boudreaux
Ceramic Vanity Tray
Emily Lovejoy Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Emily Lovejoy
Ascending Trees
Louise Guidry Encaustic / Monotype / Painting / Printmaking
NEW ORLEANS
Louise Guidry
Carnival Series
Ayodele Owolabi Painting
JEFFERSON
Ayodele Owolabi
TRANS/GAZA/SYSTEMIC/WOKE
David Lang Painting
NEW ORLEANS
David Lang
You Denied My Existence - James Baldwin
Jason Van Pelt Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Jason Van Pelt
Encounter
Malak Morgan Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Malak Morgan
Awaken I
Matt Litchliter Mixed Media / Painting
NORTHSHORE
Matt Litchliter
A New Idea
Carolyn Busenlener Painting
PEARLINGTON
Carolyn Busenlener
Dragonfly Sky
Matty Whitcomb Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Matty Whitcomb
Land Before Time II
Leroy Miranda Jr. Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Leroy Miranda Jr.
"Snake Charmer"
Isabel Perez Gomez Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Isabel Perez Gomez
Let’s Have Brunch When This is All Over
Nancy Lassen Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Nancy Lassen
Transfiguration in Blue
Kate R. Hanrahan Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Kate R. Hanrahan
Otis
Lucille Anderson Lucille Blues
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Lucille Anderson
Bring Back Louisiana
Vergie Banks Painting
LAFAYETTE
Vergie Banks
Serenity
Anne McLeod Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Anne McLeod
Orchestra
Tony Hollums Painting
MARIGNY
Tony Hollums
Bayou Diminuendo
Emory Nolan Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Emory Nolan
The Homecoming
Cheryl Anne Grace Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Cheryl Anne Grace
A Magical St. Charles Day
Camille Barnes Visionary Design LLC
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Camille Barnes
Tylor and His Dog Lemon
Paige DeVries Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Paige DeVries
Swamp Creatures
Morgan Allain Painting
LAKE CHARLES
Morgan Allain
Untitled 002
Gabrielle Tolliver Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Gabrielle Tolliver
Masked Bricks
Queen Hope Parker Queen Hope Poetic Art
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Queen Hope Parker
Rain
Tony Nozero Painting
BYWATER
Tony Nozero
Bring Back Louisiana
Leah Morace Painting
ALEXANDRIA
Leah Morace
La Mer
Charissa Owens Painting
ALEXANDRIA
Charissa Owens
Song Trails
Nicole Ockmond Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Nicole Ockmond
Infinite Sadness
Jeremy Paten Mixed Media / Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Jeremy Paten
Temperance (XIV)
Margaux Hymel Art by Gaux Gaux
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Margaux Hymel
Edison
Brent Houzenga Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Brent Houzenga
Ego - Print
Shelby Little Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Shelby Little
Portals to Anywhere
Katie Yaquinto Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Katie Yaquinto
Backboard for "NOLA has Wiiings"
BE3K . Painting
NEW ORLEANS
BE3K .
Ghost Ship
Charles Hoffacker Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Charles Hoffacker
Bakery Village House Portrait
Hayley Roussel Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Hayley Roussel
Soft Serve at the Billy Goat Hole
Saegan Swanson Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Saegan Swanson
Orgullo
MILAGROS Collective Painting
NEW ORLEANS
MILAGROS Collective
Kermit Ruffins : BBQ swinger
Gabriel Flowers New Orleans Paint and Design
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Gabriel Flowers
Angels of the savannah
Amzie Adams Painting
MARIGNY
Amzie Adams
The Steppers (Step x Step)
Ceaux . Ceaux Artwork
Painting
NEW ORLEANS
Ceaux .
Festival des Acadiens
Devin De Wulf Folk / Outsider Art / Painting / Photography
NEW ORLEANS
Devin De Wulf
Kindred Spirits
Ron Smith Painting
SHREVEPORT
Ron Smith
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