Self taught artist, Max-Carlos Martinez, born 1961 in Albuquerque, New Mexico began painting in 1979. He moved to New York City in 1981, where he lived, painted full-time, attended prominent residencies, and exhibited works for 29 years. He returned to New Mexico in 2010 and began an artist residency at El Zagúan in Santa Fe which lasted for seven years during which his salon became notorious. Martinez has exhibited works in numerous solo and group exhibitions and his paintings are collected nationally and internationally.