Maxx Kurzunski is a lighting designer and production manager recognized for creating bold, immersive visual experiences across live performance, nightlife, and large-scale events. As the Lighting Designer for Burning Man’s Center Camp, Maxx transforms one of the playa’s most iconic gathering spaces into a living canvas of light—shaping mood, guiding energy, and amplifying the festival’s spirit of creativity and community. In San Francisco, Maxx serves as the technical director and production manager at the legendary drag nightclub Oasis, where their designs elevate the artistry of drag, cabaret, and performance with dynamic color palettes, precise cueing, and a flair for theatrical storytelling.
Beyond these roles, Maxx has stage managed for major events including Outside Lands Dolores Stage and SF Pride Mainstage. They have also served as Lighting Director for Google’s events program, and led the lighting design for the Bayview Event Center, blending technical expertise with creative vision to deliver large-scale, innovative experiences.
Maxx also played a significant role in the San Francisco theater scene, having founded FaultLine Theater, SF’s premiere producer of new works, and serving as the resident lighting designer at Custom Made Theatre Co, contributing to over 30 productions, including two off-broadway premieres..
With a background that bridges technical mastery and artistic experimentation, Maxx thrives on collaboration and adapts their design to enhance the unique voice of every project. Their work is defined by a deep understanding of how light shapes atmosphere and emotion, whether in an intimate nightclub, a theatrical production, or a temporary city in the desert.
Passionate about innovation, Maxx is constantly exploring new tools and techniques in lighting design, pushing boundaries to create experiences that are both visually striking and emotionally resonant.