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.
$2,962Sale Price|25% Off
Sailboat With Hearts On Blends (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. Artwork size: 16 x 12 inches. Frame size...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
Umbrella Man, Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Peter Max (1937) Title: Umbrella Man Year: 2015 Medium: Watercolor and silkscreen on Fabriano paper Size: 11 x 15 inches Inscription: Signed in ink Notes: Published, printed,...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Screen
$3,800Sale Price|20% Off
Galaxy Profile, Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Peter Max (1937) Title: Galaxy Profile Year: 2015 Medium: Watercolor and silkscreen on Fabriano paper Size: 11 x 15 inches Inscription: Signed in ink Notes: Published, printe...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Screen
$3,000Sale Price|20% Off
Umbrella Man, Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Peter Max (1937) Title: Umbrella Man Year: 2015 Medium: Watercolor and silkscreen on Fabriano paper Size: 12 x 13.75 inches Inscription: Signed in ink Notes: Published, print...
Mixed Media, Watercolor, Screen
$3,500
Pink Sun
By Peter Max
Located in Buffalo, NY
An original mixed media work by Peter Max. Max created studies for his lithographic work in order to figure out the exact composition and colors. This is one such study. Max h...
Mixed Media, Color Pencil, Graphite, Lithograph
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
Cosmic Profile (original mixed media and watercolor)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size approx 19.5 x 21 inches. Artwork size 12 x 13.50 inche...
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
$7,500
Asia on Blends
By Peter Max
Located in Missouri, MO
Peter Max (German, b. 1937) Asia on Blends Signed Lower Right 18 x 14 inches 32.5 x 28.5 inches with frame Peter Max, born Peter Max Finkelstein, is a...
Acrylic, Lithograph
$636Sale Price|20% Off
Lady’s Hat, Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Peter Max (1937) Title: Lady’s Hat Year: 1982 Medium: Mixed media, crayon, lithography on Arches paper Size: 6.25 x 7 inches Condition: Good Inscription: Signed by the artist...
Mixed Media
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
Umbrella Man (original mixed media and watercolor)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size approx 18 x 20 inches. Artwork size 12 x 13.75 inches...
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
$3,400Sale Price|20% Off
Lady Profile, Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Peter Max (1937) Title: Lady Profile Year: 2015 Medium: Monotype silkscreen on Fabriano paper Size: 19.75 x 15.25 inches Inscription: Hand signed in ink PETER MAX (1937- ) P...
Monotype, Screen
$3,800Sale Price|20% Off
Two Sages, Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Fairfield, CT
Artist: Peter Max (1937) Title: Two Sages Year: 1997 Medium: Acrylic, lithograph on Arches paper Size: 12 x 14 inches Inscription: Hand signed Notes: Published, printed by Via Max, N...
Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$3,712Sale Price|25% Off
Cosmic Profile (Original Mixed Media)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media on paper. Hand signed and dated on front by Peter Max. Frame size approx 22 x 28.5 inches. Artwork size 11.6 x 18.4 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition...
Paper, Mixed Media
$2,962Sale Price|25% Off
Umbrella Man (framed 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. Artwork size: 16 x 12 inches. Frame size...
Paper, Mixed Media, Acrylic, Lithograph
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
SAILBOAT SUNRISE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size approx 20 x 18 inches. Artwork size 13.75 x 12 inches. Artwork is in excellent conditi...
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
$2,212Sale Price|25% Off
Angel with Heart (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
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
Cosmic Flyer (original mixed media and watercolor)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size 18.25 x 22.25 inches. Artwork size 11 x 15 inches. Artwork is in excellent condition. ...
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
$11,264Sale Price|20% Off
SUNSET
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand-signed in acrylic on front by Peter Max. Canvas is stretched. Peter Max studio catalog number and year on verso. Artwork is in excellent condition. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Peter Max (American, born 1937) is a German artist known for his unique brand of rainbow-hued prints and paintings, which he has created since the early 1960s. Employing painterly strokes, his illustrations incorporate a wide spectrum of colors and patterns as seen in his Umbrella Man series. “I'm just wowed by the universe. I'm just glad to do something I love...
Canvas, Acrylic
Flag with Heart on Blends
By Peter Max
Located in Missouri, MO
Peter Max (German, b. 1937) Flag with Heart on Blends Signed Lower Right 16.25 x 12 inches 31 x 26.5 inches with frame Peter Max, born Peter Max Finkelstein, is a multi-dimensional...
Acrylic, Lithograph
$14,000Sale Price|20% Off
STILL LIFE WITH PROFILE
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand-signed in acrylic on front by Peter Max. Canvas is stretched. Peter Max studio catalog number and year on verso. Artwork is in excellent condition. All reasonable offers will be considered. About the Artist: Peter Max (American, born 1937) is a German artist known for his unique brand of rainbow-hued prints and paintings, which he has created since the early 1960s. Employing painterly strokes, his illustrations incorporate a wide spectrum of colors and patterns as seen in his Umbrella Man series. “I'm just wowed by the universe. I'm just glad to do something I love...
Canvas, Acrylic
$3,375Sale Price|25% Off
Guru (original mixed media and watercolor)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original mixed media drawing with watercolor on paper. Hand signed by Peter Max. Frame size approx 21 x 19.25 inches. Artwork size 13.75 x 12 inch...
Paper, Mixed Media, Watercolor
Woodstock Series, Profile on B
By Peter Max
Located in Missouri, MO
Peter Max (German, b. 1937) Woodstock Series, Profile on B Signed Lower Right 9 x 7 inches 25.5 x 23.5 inches with frame Peter Max, born Peter Max Finkelstein, is a multi-dimension...
Acrylic, Lithograph
$2,212Sale Price|25% Off
Blushing Beauty (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
Sailboat I (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
Love (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
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
$2,212Sale 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
$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