POET, JOURNALIST,
MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE
ABOUT MAX
Max Wallis is a poet and artist based in Lancashire. His first book Modern Love was nominated for the Polari Prize, and he has been described as a "poetry wunderkind" by Curious Arts Festival. Widely published in both poetry journals and magazines, Wallis's main motive is to get poetry into places it's not normally seen.
In 2017, he had poetry published by Vogue, did a talk at the Royal Opera House about heartbreak, collaborated with Topman twice, producing specially curated art pieces and poetry for their shows, and turned the underground at Regent's Park gay with poetry.
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In 2024 he left his life in London after a mental health crisis, returning home to his family. Diagnosed with complex-PTSD and adult ADHD he also returned to his first love: poetry.​​
EDUCATION:
Max jumped from his BSc in Biology to his Masters degree in Creative Writing, without finishing his Bachelors. During his MA he was published and nominated for prizes. He graduated with a Distinction.
2012, Polari Prize (shortlisted)
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In conjunction with Timur Celikdag a fashion film Max wrote a poem Brave New World for won:
2022, Best New Fashion Film, Best Green Film - Fashion Film Festival Milano
2022, Best Fashion Film, Best Styling, Best Make Up, Best Hair, Fashion Film Festival Istanbul
2022, Shortlisted by Berlin Commercial, One Point Four, the Fashion Film Festival Amsterdam, the Aesthetica Short Film Festival, and the Athens Fashion Film Festival
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2024, Michael Marks Environmental Poet of the Year Award (Love's Wild Departing, 3rd)
2024, Renard Press Building Bridges Competition (Shortlisted, Special Mention)
2025, Frontier Poetry Challenge (Longlisted)​
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POETRY PUBLISHED IN...
2025
The Rialto (Cage, Crowns, Profit and Loss, Ryugu no Tsukai),
The Spectator (Vow)
Effable (Fulcrum)
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2024
Poetry Scotland (Fix),
Renard Press Building Bridges Poetry Anthology (The second time),
Ink, Sweat and Tears, (Snow)
Ink, Sweat and Tears, (Heels)
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2011-2024
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Vogue, Harper's Bazaar, Popshot Magazine, et al
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