Born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937, psychedelic Pop art icon Peter Max spent the first part of his childhood in Shanghai after his parents emigrated from Germany to flee the Nazis. While there, Max developed his deep interest in American pop culture — namely comic books, jazz and cinema. Max’s paintings, graphic design, prints and illustrations, which were inspired by these interests, were also informed by his experience with synesthesia, a sensory condition that causes him to see music and hear color.
After relocating to Haifa, Israel, then Paris, where he spent a significant amount of time in sketching classes at the Louvre, a teenage Max and his family finally moved to the United States, settling in Brooklyn. Max enrolled in the Art Students League of New York in 1956, training under Frank J. Reilly, and then the School of Visual Arts. Throughout art school, Max focused on photorealism, but he found the style too restrictive. When he graduated and opened his graphic design studio with friends in 1962, he began experimenting with abstraction and color — just in time for the psychedelic era.
The technicolor works for which Max would become known are characterized by big and bold graphic qualities — not dissimilar to what you’d find in his beloved comic books. Some deeper themes emerged across his work too: Max spent a good portion of the 1960s and 1970s creating his signature cosmic style, inspired by his fascination with astronomy and Eastern philosophies.
For Max and his partners, the graphic design business was highly successful, with commissions rolling in from advertising agencies, magazines and even Hollywood in the form of movie posters. The artist was featured on the cover of Life in 1969, and by the 1970s, he was practically a household name.
Max's body of work extended into product design, including a line of clocks for General Electric, while his domination of the commercial art scene continued for decades. He was commissioned to paint a postage stamp honoring the World’s Fair of 1974 (Expo ‘74); a Statue of Liberty series in which some proceeds went on to fund the statue’s restoration; posters and other advertising materials for major events like the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open and the Grammys; a Dale Earnhardt race car; and even the hull of the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship.
Commercial activities aside, Max has long been the subject of many museum exhibitions, from his first solo show in 1970, “The World of Peter Max,” at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco to 2016's “Peter Max: 50 Years of Cosmic Dreaming” at the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida. Today, his work belongs to the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and other institutions.
Find original Peter Max lithographs, paintings, signed art and other works for sale on 1stDibs.
$2,065Sale Price|30% Off
MOON FLOWERS I
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. The artwork is in overall excellent condition. Due to its age, there is some normal signs of aging on the white margins. There is some blue pr...
Paper, Screen
$2,212Sale Price|25% Off
Still Life - Abstract Series (unique mixed media on paper)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Mixed media with acrylic painting and color lithography on paper. Hand-signed in acrylic paint on front by Peter Max. A unique variation. Frame size 18 x 15.5 inches. Artwork siz...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$2,212Sale Price|25% Off
Cosmic Runner (unique mixed media on paper)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Mixed media with acrylic painting and color lithography on paper. Hand-signed in acrylic paint on front by Peter Max. A unique variation. Frame size 18 x 15.5 inches. Artwork siz...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$2,765Sale Price|30% Off
TIME LINE DEGA MAN
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered by Peter Max. Edition of 150. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. All reasonable offe...
Paper, Screen
$1,540Sale Price|30% Off
HIS OWN ECLIPSE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered. Blind stamped in lower left corner. Don't hesitate to ask any questions. Certificate of Authenticity included. Published by AMX Art Ltd., NY and printed by ...
Screen, Paper
$2,765Sale Price|30% Off
THREE FACES
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Screen print in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered 'HC 27' by Peter Max. Frame size approx 31 x 40 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity i...
Paper, Screen
$2,100Sale Price|30% Off
LADY ON COUCH
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Serigraph in colors on paper. Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Artist Proof (AP) edition of 45. Sheet size 23 x 27.5 inches. Image size 18 x 22.5 inches. Custom framed as ...
Paper, Screen
$5,250Sale Price|30% Off
THE ANGELS SUITE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Complete suite of 6 hand signed and numbered etchings. Includes hand signed binder. Numbered AP 24 (aside from the main edition of 100). Sheet size is 15 x 19 inches each. Image ...
Paper, Etching
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
COSMIC PROFILE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size approx 17 x 21 inches. Artwork size 11 x 15 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition....
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
$1,715Sale Price|30% Off
LADY ON COUCH WITH VASE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. Published by AMX Art Ltd., NY and printed by IZMO Productions, NY. E...
Screen, Paper
$2,450Sale Price|30% Off
RED VASE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed and numbered by the artist. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. Published by AMX Art Ltd., NY and printed by A Nussbaum, NY. HC edit...
Paper, Lithograph
$1,715Sale Price|30% Off
VASE IN ROOM II
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed, dated and inscribed "Study" by the artist. Hand embellished by the artist. A unique variation. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included....
Paper, Lithograph
$2,212Sale Price|25% Off
Day Dream (unique mixed media on paper)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Mixed media with acrylic painting and color lithography on paper. Hand-signed in acrylic paint on front by Peter Max. A unique variation. Frame size 18 x 15.5 inches. Artwork siz...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$2,212Sale Price|25% Off
Statue Overpaint (unique mixed media on paper)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Mixed media with acrylic painting and color lithography on paper. Hand-signed in acrylic paint on front by Peter Max. A unique variation. Frame size 18 x 15.5 inches. Artwork siz...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$1,715Sale Price|30% Off
THE GARDEN
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed, dated and inscribed "Study" by the artist. Hand embellished by the artist. A unique variation. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included....
Paper, Lithograph
$1,715Sale Price|30% Off
IN HIS GARDEN
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Hand signed, dated and inscribed "Study" by the artist. Hand embellished by the artist. A unique variation. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included....
Paper, Lithograph
Price Upon Request
"Cosmic Runner with Zooples" Pop Art Screen Print Silk Screen Serigraph Blue
By Peter Max
Located in Austin, TX
This colorful and zany piece by Peter Max depicts a sky blue character called the "Cosmic Runner" in mid-sprint across the composition. 14" x 18.5" Screen print About the Artist: ...
Archival Paper, Screen
Price Upon Request
Grammy, Pop Art painting by Peter Max 1991
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max Title: Grammy Year: 1991 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed upper right, with Max studio verso Size: 60 x 48 inches (152.4 x 121.92 cm) Frame: 63 x 51 inches Max wa...
Canvas, Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Neo Head, Large Peter Max painting 1994
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max Title: Neo Head Year: 1994 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed l.r. Size: 72 x 60 inches (frame larger)
Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Zero Megalopolis
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max Title: Zero Megalopolis Year: 1989 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.r. and studio stamp verso Size: 60 x 60 inches Frame: 67 x 67 inches
Canvas, Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Heart with Profile
By Peter Max
Located in Missouri, MO
Peter Max Heart and Profile c. 2005 Serigraph with Acrylic Paint Hand Signed by the Artist Image Size: approx. 14 x 12.5 Frames Size: approx. 27 x 24.5 inches
Acrylic, Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Blue Profile with Pink Orb
By Peter Max
Located in Missouri, MO
Color Lithograph Signed and Dated Lower Right Numbered Lower Left 22/100 Image Size: approx. 23 x 29 inches Framed Size: approx. 31 x 37.5 inches
Lithograph
Price Upon Request
Zero In Purple
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max Title: Zero In Purple Year: 1994 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.r. and studio stamp verso Size: 60 x 48 inches
Canvas, Acrylic
Price Upon Request
Zero Series Version 3, No. 2
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max, German/American (1937 - ) Title: Zero Series Version 3, No. 2 Year: 1994 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed upper right Size: 24 x 18 in. (60.96 x 45.72 cm) Frame S...
Canvas, Acrylic