Max PhV | Maximilian Vermilye

Artist Bio

Maximilian Vermilye (b.1993), also known as Max PhV, is a Swiss, British, and American digital artist based in Geneva specializing in psychodynamic photography—a conceptual approach to digital imagery that transforms everyday moments into emotionally evocative works of art. Holding a BA in Media Studies and Photography from Webster University, alongside certifications from the London School of Photography and styling courses in London, Vermilye’s multidisciplinary background informs his unique artistic vision, blending aesthetics, color theory, and storytelling.

Vermilye’s work has been exhibited internationally in Geneva, London, Seoul, New York, and in the Metaverse through a 2023 collaboration with VoiceHQ NFT marketplace. His recent exhibitions include the CICA Museum in South Korea, Holy Art Gallery in New York, and Circular ArtSpace in Bristol, UK (2024). In 2025, his work was showcased at Art Genève as part of the Art and Science Co-Lab booth and at Left Bank Leeds in the UK.His practice extends beyond exhibitions to thought leadership in the art world. In 2025, Vermilye delivered talks at the SciArt Dialogue Week at IDEASquare at CERN Institute and at Art Genève’s “From Brush Strokes to Big Bangs – Art and Science in Dialogue” conference. He also authored “New Technology, New Art, New Problems: Navigating the Digital Renaissance” for newSpecial Magazine (2024-2025) and has been featured in Visual Art Journal, Artist CloseUp Contemporary Art Magazine, and Holy Art Journal.

Artist

Statement

Photography has always been my passion, which led me to earn a Bachelor’s degree in Photography from Webster University. As technology has democratized photography, I found inspiration in the ubiquitous smartphone—a tool often dismissed as non-artistic. This sparked my exploration into psychodynamic photography, a practice where I capture and transform everyday scenes entirely on my smartphone, using inbuilt mobile editing software.

Psychodynamic photography is about more than the image; it’s about the emotional transformation of a moment. Through techniques like the flip method, formal symmetry, and repetition, I create compositions that evoke fractals, surreal geometries, and fantastical creatures hidden within the fabric of our perceived reality.

The process involves three key stages:

1. Capture: Observing and photographing everyday moments.
2. Modulation: Using mobile editing apps to distort, reflect, and reimagine the original image.
3. Transformation: Creating a new, emotionally charged artwork distinct from its source.

My work invites viewers to engage with their subconscious, allowing each person to project their emotions and interpretations onto the piece. This interaction forms a unique dialogue between artist, artwork, and observer—where meaning is not dictated but discovered.

I explore the intricate layers between the psyche and external reality, constructing surrealist compositions filled with geometric abstraction. These repeated forms and patterns encourage viewers to pause, reflect, and question their perception of reality, revealing hidden dimensions and emotional undercurrents beneath the surface.

Ultimately, psychodynamic photography is not just about seeing—it’s about feeling. It’s an exploration of the hidden narratives within ourselves and the world around us, captured and transformed through the lens of a device we carry every day.