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.
Profile, Pop Art Portrait by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max, German/American (1937) Title: Profile Year: 1986 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.r. Size: 40 in. x 30 in. (101.6 cm x 76.2 cm) Frame Size: 49.5 x 39.5 inches
Canvas, Acrylic
Intricacies of the Mind, Original Acrylic Painting, Signed, 1970, 48x58 in.
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed and dated lower left by Peter Max. Artwork size: 48.25 x 58 inches. Canvas is stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition with...
Canvas, Acrylic
Portrait of Dr. Burger, the Diet Doctor, by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max Title: Portrait of Dr. Burger, the Diet Doctor Year: 1991 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.r. and signer, dated, and numbered verso Size: 20 in. x 16 in. (50.8 c...
Canvas, Acrylic
Grammy Day (huge original painting)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand-signed and dated in acrylic on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 60 x 45 inches. Peter Max studio catalog number and date on verso. Dated, ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Flag with Heart, Unique Mixed Media on Paper, Pop Art, Signed, 2009
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
Profile with Three Hearts, Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Signed, 2012
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 28 x 22 inches. Custom framed as pictured. White frame with linen matting and hand painted file...
Canvas, Acrylic
Angel By The Window (custom framed original painting on canvas)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed upper front by Peter Max. Canvas size: 20 x 16 inches. Custom framed as pictured. Black frame and linen matting with hand painte...
Canvas, Acrylic
Dalai Lama Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Pop Art, Signed, 1990s
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on silkscreened canvas. Hand signed and dated upper front by Peter Max. Artwork is stretched. Canvas size: 16 x 14 x 2 inches. Dated on verso by Peter M...
Canvas, Acrylic, Screen
Zero in Blue, 1985 Painting by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Zero in Blue by Peter Max, German/American (1937) Date: 1985 Acrylic on Canvas, signed u.r. Size: 24 in. x 18 in. (60.96 cm x 45.72 cm) Frame Size: 26.5 x 20.5 inches
Canvas, Acrylic
Profile with Two Hearts, Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Signed, 2012
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 24 x 30 inches. Custom framed as pictured. White frame with linen matting and hand painted file...
Canvas, Acrylic
Angel with Heart (custom framed original painting)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 36 x 24 inches. Frame size approx 49 x 38 inches. Studio catalog number and stamp on verso. Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
Nelson Mandela, Pop Art Portrait by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max, German/American (1937 - ) Title: Nelson Mandela 1 Year: 2001 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, Signed Size: 18 x 16 inches
Acrylic
Portrait of Dr. Burger, the Diet Doctor, v. 2, by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max, German/American (1937 - ) Title: Portrait of Dr. Burger, the Diet Doctor, v. 2 Year: 1991 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, signed upper right and signed, dated, and numb...
Acrylic
Heart Framed Original Painting, Acrylic on Canvas, Pop Art, 1992
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed upper right by Peter Max. Canvas size: 16 x 16 inches Frame size: 27 x 27 inches. Studio catalog number and date stamped on verso....
Canvas, Acrylic
Brown Lady (custom framed original painting)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 36 x 24 inches. Custom frame with hand painted filet. Frame size approx 46 x 33.75 inches. Stu...
Canvas, Acrylic
Profile with Red Hearts, Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Signed
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 24 x 30 inches. Custom framed as pictured. White frame with linen matting and hand painted filet. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Profile (Green) Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Custom Framed, Signed
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed and dated upper front by Peter Max. Canvas size: 24 x 20 inches. Custom framed as pictured. White frame and linen matting with h...
Canvas, Acrylic
Palm Beach Lady Acrylic Painting on Paper, Pop Art, Framed, 2000s
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Unique hand painting with acrylic on poster. Hand signed on front by the artist. Studio stamp on verso. Artwork size: 36 x 24 inches. Frame size: 49 x 37 inches. Custom framed as pictured. White frame and matting with a hand painted fillet. Artwork is in excellent condition. Peter Max...
Acrylic, Paper
Liberty Head Mixed Media on Paper, Unique, Signed, Pop Art, 2009
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
Nelson Mandela, Pop Art Portrait by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in Long Island City, NY
Artist: Peter Max, German/American (1937 - ) Title: Nelson Mandela Year: 2001 Medium: Acrylic on Canvas, Signed u.l. Size: 18 x 16 inches
Acrylic
Angel with Heart, Unique Mixed Media on Paper, Pop Art, Signed, 2009
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
Profile with Flower Vase (original painting on canvas)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 24 x 30 inches. Frame size approx 28 x 34 inches. In 2012, Ken Hendel, the owner of Gallery A...
Canvas, Acrylic
Angel, Original Acrylic Painting on Canvas, Custom Framed, 1978
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by the artist. Studio stamp on verso. Custom framed with hand painted fillet. Canvas size 40 x 30 inches. Framed size approx 49 ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Blushing Beauty, Unique Mixed Media on Paper, Pop Art, Signed, 2009
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
Day Dream Unique Mixed Media on Paper, Pop Art, Signed, 2009
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
Cosmic Runner, Unique Mixed Media on Paper, Pop Art, Signed, 2009
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
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
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
$350Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.99 in Dm 10.24 in
Unique Circular Portrait of a Migrant Girl on Yellow Wood Panel – "Currency #247
By Natasha Lelenco
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Special offer only in this artwork of this series: 50% off from May 21 to May 28 only. This limited-time campaign highlights selected works from Currencies, the long-running series b...
Wood, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$474Sale Price|20% Off
H 15.75 in W 11.82 in D 0.79 in
Yellow Emoji Acrylic and Spray Portrait with Ornate Yellow Metal Frame
By Natasha Lelenco
Located in FISTERRA, ES
This acrylic portrait reinterprets digital emotion through a yellow-toned face with emoji-like eyes. Part of Natasha Lelenco’s You Are The One series, “Yellow Emoji” translates the ...
Canvas, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Board
$2,800
H 54 in W 50 in
(Princess) Grace Kelly XI /// Contemporary Street Pop Art Portrait Painting Face
By Jack Graves III
Located in Saint Augustine, FL
Artist: Jack Graves III (American, 1988-) Title: "(Princess) Grace Kelly XI" Series: Icon *Signed by Graves lower left. It is also signed, titled, and dated on verso Year: 2025 Mediu...
Acrylic, Paint, Canvas
$2,757Sale Price|20% Off
H 39 in W 39 in D 2 in
Winnie the Poo Cartoon Mixed Media Urban Graffiti Art by British Street Artist
By Chris Pegg
Located in Preston, GB
Cartoon Urban Graffiti Pop Art of Winnie the Poo entitled 'Winnie the Poor' by British Street Artist Chris Pegg. Art measures 39 x 39 inches Chris Pegg is a self-taught artist fr...
Ink, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Felt Pen, Canvas, Cotton Canvas, Mixed Media
"Crystal Hunt, " Acrylic Paint on Canvas
Located in Chicago, IL
Starring Donnie Yen, "The Bruce Lee of the 90s," "Crystal Hunt" was a martial arts film from Hong Kong made in 1991. Frequently, theaters in Ghana were unable to import official post...
Acrylic, Canvas
"Power Force, " Acrylic Paint on Canvas, 2003
Located in Chicago, IL
Power Force was an American-made martial arts movie from 1991. It starred Alphonse Beni, a Cameroonian born movie star as a crime-fighting ninja. Frequently unable to import official posters, theaters in Ghana hired enterprising artists to create and embellish designs to promote the films in their own style. The result is a whole new genre collected worldwide. In this work by Ghanian artist...
Canvas, Acrylic
$948Sale Price|20% Off
H 19.69 in W 19.69 in
Into the distance. Figurative Acrylic Painting, Minimalism, Pop art, Polish art
By Joanna Woyda
Located in Warsaw, PL
Contemporary figurative acrylic on canvas painting by Polish artist Joanna Woyda. Painting is in minimalistic, pop art style. The artwork depicts a girl standing on the shoreline, sh...
Canvas, Acrylic
$6,000
H 36 in W 28 in D 1.5 in
"Ben-day Sophia 1" Mixed media, Acrylic, spray paint, pigmented ink 36x28 canvas
By Ceravolo
Located in Southampton, NY
"Benday Sophia 1" pays tribute to those paintings that became the trademark of Ceravolo's unique and trend setting style of painting. His work is collected worldwide and is in many important collections including, Sir Elton John, Rod Stewart, Hugh Hefner and Prince Jefri of Brunei to name only a few. In addition to those, his paintings came to popular attention when he was commissioned to create 5 large scale paintings for the lobby of The Palladium Theatre in New York City. In this painting, Ceravolo has featured an image of his pop art painting of Sophia Loren, and combined it with a pattern of benday dots to create the basis of "Benday Sophia 1". He then paints his trademark brush strokes and textures on the canvas over the pop art portrait. Then, he paints the "floating" illusion that creates the 3d floating effect he is known for. The Canvas measures 36x28".
Canvas, Oil, Spray Paint, Acrylic, Mixed Media
$36,000
H 52 in W 62 in D 2 in
The Sweet Life, ITALY La Dolce Vita, Large Oil and Acrylic on canvas, 52x62"
By Ceravolo
Located in Southampton, NY
For the month of December we are offering very special end of year pricing of at least a 20% discount on all of the paintings at the gallery. A few are discounted as much as 50%. If ...
Acrylic, Canvas, Oil
$382Sale Price|20% Off
H 0.99 in Dm 10.24 in
Contemporary Figurative Blue Circular Russian Female Portrait. Currency #238
By Natasha Lelenco
Located in FISTERRA, ES
Circular female portrait with Russian inscription, exploring expectation, displacement, and symbolic value through the format of a sculptural painted coin. Currency #238 is an acryl...
Wood, Spray Paint, Acrylic
$42,500
H 68 in W 88 in D 1.5 in
Young Marilyn at the Beach tug of war, Large 68x88 Oil and Acrylic on canvas
By Ceravolo
Located in Southampton, NY
Ceravolo's Large scale paintings have received international acclaim for more three decades. His art is in many influential corporate and private collections, including: ELTON JOHN...
Canvas, Oil, Acrylic
"A Bridge of Dragon, " Hand-Painted Ghanaian Movie Poster
Located in Chicago, IL
Starring Dolph Lundgren, Bridge of Dragons was a pulpy action/romance from the late 90s. The film's international success is evident in this hand-painte...
Canvas, Acrylic
Liberty Head Ver. VI (framed original painting)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed upper right by Peter Max. Canvas size: 20 x 16 inches. Frame size: 29 x 25 inches. Studio catalog number and date stamped on vers...
Canvas, Acrylic
Les Mondrian Ladies (large framed original painting)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed upper right by Peter Max. Canvas size: 37.5 x 49.5 inches Frame size: 41 x 53 inches. Dedicated and remarqued on verso by Peter Ma...
Acrylic, Canvas
Zero In Love (huge framed original painting)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed upper right by Peter Max. Canvas size: 48 x 60 inches Frame size: 58 x 70 inches. Dedicated and remarqued on verso by Peter Max. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
LIVING ROOM (WOMAN)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed and dated on front by the artist. Custom framed with hand painted fillet. Canvas size 14 x 18 in. Framed size approx 22.25 x 26.25 in. Ar...
Canvas, Acrylic
ASIA VER. III #6
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by the artist. Studio stamp on verso. Artwork is in excellent condition. Peter Max Studio Certificate of Authenticity included. A...
Canvas, Acrylic
BLUE THINKER
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by the artist. Studio stamp on verso. Artwork is in excellent condition. Certificate of Authenticity included. All reasonable off...
Canvas, Acrylic
Goofy (original painting on canvas)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 16 x 14 inches. Studio catalog number and date on verso. Dedicated and remarqued on verso with ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Mickey Mouse (original painting on canvas)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 16 x 14 inches. Studio catalog number and date on verso. Artwork is in excellent condition. ...
Canvas, Acrylic
Profile with Hearts (original painting on canvas)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand signed on front by Peter Max. Canvas size 16 x 20 inches. Frame size approx 20 x 24 inches. In 2012, Ken Hendel, the owner of Gallery A...
Canvas, Acrylic
HIS BIRTHDAY (LARGE PAINTING)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas mounted on linen. Hand signed and dated upper front by Peter Max. Canvas is not stretched. Artwork is in excellent condition. Some signs of expe...
Canvas, Acrylic
Mick Jagger
By Peter Max
Located in Washington, DC
Artist: Peter Max Title: Mick Jagger Medium: Unique serigraph with mixed media and acrylic on paper Date: 1994 Edition: One of a kind Frame Size: 51" x 37 1/4" Sheet Size: 45" x 31 1...
Acrylic, Screen
LIBERTY HEAD (LARGE PAINTING)
By Peter Max
Located in Aventura, FL
Original acrylic painting on canvas. Hand-signed in acrylic on front by Peter Max. Peter Max studio catalog number and year on verso. Canvas size 60 x 60 inches. Canvas is stretch...
Canvas, Acrylic