Maxim Bondarenko, Newby, 2026
Oil pastel on black paper
12 x 18 in.
Limited edition of 1
Unframed
Ships from Sacramento, United States
The work explores subcultural themes of initiation and group dynamics within gay cruising history, capturing the quiet tension as a newcomer enters a collective space. The artist uses a rich color palette, contrasting warm terracotta and violet figures with a central model highlighted in cool sea-green tones. Reflective horizontal strokes of emerald, yellow, and blue create a vivid, water-like ground beneath their feet. Offered directly from the studio this uncensored, original physical sheet preserves the full textural richness of the pastel medium, making it a major addition for collectors interested in multi-figure narrative art and queer visual history.
About the artist
MAXIM BONDARENKO
Maxim Bondarenko is a Russian artist based in Sacramento, California. He was born in Soviet Union, and lived in Moscow before the country’s political climate turned increasingly repressive towards gay people.
Max relocated to the U.S., where he rediscovered his creative inspiration. During his time in America, he had few collective exhibitions and one solo show in Sacramento in 2022.
Maxim’s work is rooted in academic art traditions and Impressionism, with a deep focus on color. He views color theory almost like a religion—it’s central to his practice and the lens through which he approaches every piece, seeing evidence of the Transcendental in it. He is fascinated by the clashes between warm and cool values and the dynamic tension of complementary colors, which he believes hold a unique, almost spiritual power.
In his love of paradoxes, he often commits to pointillistic analysis of ephemeral optical illusions applied to the male physique, contrasting this with the viscous, bright, and vivacious impasto qualities of his flowers - two favorite subjects.
While his art celebrates the beauty and sensuality of color, he also invites the viewer to pause and reflect “between pixels.” He hopes his work offers not just a visual escape, but also a subtle commentary on reality and a resistance to conformity.