Peter Max, psychedelic pop art icon, dies at 88

The artist had been suffering from an advanced form of dementia for several years. In a statement to the Associated Press, Adam Max paid tribute to his father’s creativity, warmth, and curiosity, noting that his images became a recognizable part of American popular culture.

Born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937 to a Jewish family, he fled Nazi Germany with his parents when he was still an infant. After living in Shanghai, Israel, and Paris, the family settled in New York when he was 16 years old.

Peter Max opened a graphic design studio in 1961. His vibrant compositions, filled with flowers, cosmic figures, and swirling shapes, quickly gained immense popularity. They appeared on posters, clothing, household items, and several covers of the Manhattan telephone directory.

His work was also associated with the Olympics, the Super Bowl, the FIFA World Cup, the World Series, and the Indianapolis 500. His creations adorned a Boeing 777 and a Norwegian Cruise Line ship. He also created portraits of American presidents and celebrities like Taylor Swift.

The Guardian notes that his optimistic aesthetic has transcended several generations, even though the institutional art world has sometimes kept him at arm’s length. The Museum of Modern Art in New York holds seven of his works. Peter Max is survived by two children, Adam Max and Libra Astro.