Artist: Peter Max

Peter Max's iconic style is the epitome of psychedelic art from the 1960's and 1970's. The German born Jewish-American artist fled Germany with his parents in 1938. The family lived in Shanghai for ten years where the young Max learned to use a paint brush in the manner of Chinese calligraphy. After living in Shanghai, the Max family lived in Israel for 2 years where he discovered his lifelong love of astronomy and then went on to Paris. While Peter Max was in Paris his appreciation for art deepened and he took art classes at the Louvre. In 1956 Max began his art training at the Art Students League of New York in Manhattan.

Peter Max, along with partners Tom Daly and Don Rubbo, did graphic illustration and advertising in the 1960's. Through out the 1960's and 1970's, Max's work was printed on posters, a line of art clocks for General Electric, postage stamps, and more. His work was commissioned by more than 72 corporations. Posters displaying his work were a standard dorm room feature. Max also worked with Lee Iacocca on organizing the restoration of the Statue of Liberty and he has painted the Statue of Liberty's image every year since.



Peter Max is an environmentalist and a defender of all species rights. In 2002 Max made headlines when he offered to donate $180,000 worth of his art to benefit the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals because a cow named Cinci Freedom escaped from an Ohio slaughterhouse. The cow leapt over a six-foot fence and eluded capture for eleven days. "This little girl's will—facing the end of her life, being so frightened, then taking the risk of all risks to live, to be free—touched me so deeply," Max was quoted as saying, "It was so inspiring. I knew I had to try to preserve that wonderful spirit." Max ensured her a long life of peace at Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York with his act of generosity.



Peter Max's work is distinguished by vibrant colors, strong geometric elements, and uplifting subject matter. His method of combining colors on a four color ink press he referred to "playing a printing press like an electric piano." Max is still alive and lives with his wife Mary in New York. His official website where there is more biographical information about him, photographs of many of his paintings, and an online store where prints of his posters and more can be purchased can be found at: http://www.petermax.com/ Let a little sunshine into your life and check out the work of Peter Max!