He was 88 years old. Max achieved global fame during the 1960s with his psychedelic, brightly colored works that came to symbolize the optimism of the hippie and flower power movements.
Rise of the 1960s Flower Power Aesthetic
Max became known for massive tableaus featuring flowers, the cosmos, and cartoonish figures rendered in vibrant hues like orange, turquoise, and neon green. According to NOS Nieuws, his recognizable imagery appeared widely on posters, mugs, clothing, bedding, magazine covers, telephone directory yellow pages, stamps, a Boeing 777, and a Norwegian cruise ship. He also created art for the Olympic Games and the Super Bowl.
Reflecting on his signature palette, Max stated in an interview cited by NOS Nieuws, “The colors are strong, sometimes screaming, sometimes raw and sometimes harmonious, but always penetrating.” He added, “I don’t deal with negative matters in my paintings. I don’t dwell on them in my thoughts nor on my canvases.” Sporting a prominent black mustache, he was featured as a wealthy artist on the cover of Life magazine in September 1969.
Early Life and Commercial Success
Born Peter Max Finkelstein into a Jewish family in Berlin in 1937, Max fled with his relatives from the Nazis to Shanghai as an infant, subsequently living in Tibet, Israel, and Paris before settling in New York when he was 16. As a teenager, he was already a fan of American culture such as comics, movies, and jazz music, according to NOS Nieuws. After attending several art academies, he and friend Tom Daly opened The Daly & Max Studio for graphic design in 1961.
Massive commercial success for his unique style initially left Max with little time to paint, prompting him to halt commercial activities in the early 1970s to refocus on fine art. His style shifted from pop art to a neo-fauvistic approach, drawing inspiration from French school painters of the 1920s. In 1981, at the invitation of First Lady Nancy Reagan, he painted images of the Statue of Liberty at the White House.
Celebrity Portrayals and Later Controversies
Max painted hundreds of portraits of celebrities he often befriended, including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, and Taylor Swift, alongside world leaders, American presidents, and athletes. In 2009, he discussed his career on Larry King’s television show, as noted by NOS Nieuws.
His career also weathered legal and personal turmoil. In 1997, Max pleaded guilty to tax fraud for failing to report more than $1 million in income, receiving a two-month prison sentence, a fine, and 800 hours of community service teaching art in Harlem schools. In 2015, public disputes between his son Adam and Max’s second wife, Mary, regarding money and artwork ownership gained media attention. Mary Max died by suicide in 2019, two weeks after The New York Times published an article detailing the legal battle over the artist’s work.
Did you know? Peter Max painted his signature cosmic and flower motifs on unconventional canvases ranging from US postage stamps and telephone directories to a commercial Boeing 777 airliner.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Peter Max pass away?
What art movement is Peter Max associated with?
Max is best known as a pop art icon whose vibrant, psychedelic works defined the optimism of the 1960s hippie and flower power movements.
What were some of Peter Max’s most famous subjects?
He painted portraits of numerous celebrities and world leaders, including The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Mick Jagger, Taylor Swift, and multiple American presidents.
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