Marc Craig – Max The Virus Original

Marc Craig – Max The Virus

Unique Original Artwork | Created at City Walls Art | 1/1 | 135 × 135cm | Video Certificate of Authenticity

A spectacular, large-scale original artwork by London-based contemporary artist Marc Craig, Max The Virus brings one of his most recognisable characters to life in an explosion of bold colour, playful expression and contemporary street art energy.

Created at City Walls Art, this impressive 135 × 135cm painting captures Max in his distinctive form, with outstretched arms radiating from a central body and two bright pink eyes that immediately draw the viewer into the composition.

The striking combination of electric blue, vivid pink, sunshine yellow and deep black creates an extraordinary visual impact. Thick, flowing outlines and simplified shapes give the artwork an almost hypnotic quality, while Max's outstretched arms create a sense of movement, connection and openness.

But behind the playful imagery lies a particularly meaningful story.

Max The Virus was born in late 2021, when Marc wanted to transform something associated with fear, isolation and pandemic exhaustion into a character that could bring people happiness.

Taking inspiration from virus imagery, Marc experimented with AI-generated forms before redrawing and refining his chosen design into the character now known as Max.

His outstretched arms became his defining feature, representing a desire to reach out, connect and bring people together.

Max has since become a familiar presence at London's famous Leake Street graffiti tunnel, appearing across walls, around corners and alongside the creations of other street artists.

The character's message is simple but powerful: something originally associated with spreading fear can instead become a symbol of creativity, positivity and human connection.

This substantial original painting celebrates that transformation, taking Max from the ever-changing streets of London into a permanent, collectible artwork.

Created at City Walls Art and accompanied by a video Certificate of Authenticity, this unique piece offers collectors a direct connection to Marc Craig's creative process and the story behind one of his most distinctive characters.

Measuring an impressive 135 × 135cm, Max The Virus is an exceptional statement piece for collectors of original British contemporary art, urban art and character-driven painting.

Product Details

• Artist: Marc Craig

• Title: Max The Virus

• Medium: Original painting

• Size: 135 × 135cm

• Edition: Unique original artwork, 1/1

• Colour: Electric blue, vivid pink, yellow and black

• Special Features: Large-scale depiction of Marc Craig's signature Max The Virus character

• Created At: City Walls Art, Charfield, Gloucestershire

• Authentication: Accompanied by a video Certificate of Authenticity

• Style: Contemporary / urban art / street art / character art

• Theme: Positivity, connection, transformation, creativity, community and resilience

• Collection: Max The Virus

About the Artist | Marc Craig

Marc Craig is a London-based multidisciplinary artist whose work spans murals, painting, sculpture and collaborative projects.

Originally from Winchester, with strong Cornish roots, Marc trained in textiles, ceramics and contemporary visual arts. His distinctive artistic language combines bold imagery, expressive characters, intricate doodles and spontaneous mark-making.

His experiences at London's renowned Leake Street graffiti tunnel have played an important role in shaping his creative practice, particularly his belief in collaboration, experimentation and the power of art to connect people.

The Story Behind Max The Virus

Max The Virus emerged in late 2021, when Marc set out to transform the negative associations of the pandemic into something positive.

Encouraged by a friend, he began experimenting with AI-generated virus forms before refining one design into a distinctive character with multiple outstretched arms.

Those arms became Max's defining feature, symbolising the importance of reaching out, embracing creativity and connecting with others.

Max's spiritual home is Leake Street, beneath London's Waterloo Station, where he regularly appears alongside other street artists' work, becoming part of the tunnel's constantly evolving creative landscape.

Beyond the streets, Marc continues to develop Max through digital painting, large-scale murals and imaginative reinterpretations of iconic artworks, including the Mona Lisa.

The character has become a vehicle for Marc's wider exploration of community, artistic expression and shared experiences.

Alongside Max, Marc's other projects include MIND THE MAP, a collaborative collection of 110 artworks created with 55 artists using maps from his late father's collection, and The Ark of Extinction, which connects public art with wildlife conservation.

Across his diverse practice, Marc remains driven by curiosity, experimentation and a belief that art can create meaningful connections.

A virus spreads by contact. So does street art.

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