Peter Max facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Peter Max
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Max in 1998
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Peter Max Finkelstein
October 19, 1937 |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Art Students League of New York |
| Known for | Painting, pop art |
| Movement | Pop art |
Peter Max (born Peter Max Finkelstein, October 19, 1937) is a famous American artist. He is known for using super bright colors in his paintings and designs. His art became very popular in the 1960s and is a big part of the pop art movement.
Contents
Early Life and Art School
Peter Max was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1937. His parents, Salla and Jakob, were German Jews. In 1938, his family had to leave Berlin. They moved to Shanghai, China, and lived there for ten years.
Peter's time in Shanghai really shaped his art. He loved the vibrant colors he saw every day. He also enjoyed watching the "calligraphic ballet" at the Buddhist temple near his home.
In 1948, his family moved again, this time to Haifa, Israel. Peter went to school there, but he often drew instead of taking notes. His principal noticed his talent. He suggested Peter take art lessons after school. Peter then began studying with Professor Hünik, an artist from Vienna.
After Israel, the family traveled to Paris, France. They stayed there for several months. Peter said this trip greatly increased his love for art. While in Paris, his mom enrolled him in drawing classes at the Louvre. There, he started learning about a style called Fauvism, which uses strong, bright colors.
After nine months in Paris, Peter and his family made their final move. They settled in Brooklyn, New York, USA, in 1953. Peter went to Lafayette High School in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn. In 1956, he started his official art training. He studied at the Art Students League of New York in Manhattan. He learned about anatomy, drawing people, and how to arrange art.
Peter Max's Career
The 1960s: Cosmic Colors
In 1962, Peter Max opened a small art studio in Manhattan. It was called "The Daly & Max Studio." He worked with his friend Tom Daly. Later, their friend Don Rubbo joined them. The three artists worked together on books and advertisements. They became well-known for their unique style. They often used old photos in their collage art.
Peter was also very interested in space and stars. This led to his "Cosmic '60s" period. His art from this time featured images that were popular with the counterculture movement.
In 1967, Peter Max became a symbol of the counter-culture. He designed the posters for the second "Be In." This was a big gathering of hippies in New York's Central Park.
Peter Max even appeared on The Tonight Show in 1968. He was also featured on the cover of Life magazine in 1969. The magazine called him "Peter Max: Portrait of the artist as a very rich man."
The 1970s: Stamps and Statues
In 1970, many of Peter Max's artworks were shown in a special exhibition. It was called "The World of Peter Max." The show opened in San Francisco.
The United States Postal Service asked Peter Max to design a postage stamp. This stamp was for the Expo '74 World's Fair in Spokane, Washington. Peter drew a colorful scene for the stamp. It showed a "Cosmic Jumper" and a "Smiling Sage." There was also a cloud, sun rays, and a ship at sea. The stamp's theme was "Preserve the Environment." His bright posters became very popular during this time.
On July 4, 1976, Peter Max started his Statue of Liberty art series. He worked with Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca. Together, they helped raise money to restore the Statue of Liberty. In the same year, a project called "Peter Max Paints America" was created. It celebrated the United States Bicentennial, which was America's 200th birthday.
Peter Max also designed colorful welcome signs for the US borders. These signs were meant to be put up in 1976. However, the government at the time thought they were not suitable. The signs stayed in storage until 1977. A new government then approved them. They remained in place until 1984.
The 1980s to Today: Diverse Projects
In 1989, Peter Max designed the cover for Aretha Franklin's album Through the Storm. That same year, he painted 40 colorful portraits of Mikhail Gorbachev. This celebrated Gorbachev's efforts to bring more openness to the Soviet Union. The art was called 40 Gorbys.
In 1990, Peter Max bought a large collection of Chevrolet Corvette cars. He planned to use them for an art project, but he never did. The cars were later sold, and the money went to help veterans.
Also in 1990, Peter Max was given a piece of the Berlin Wall. He installed it on the battleship Intrepid in New York. He carved a dove out of the wall. He placed it on top as a symbol of freedom.
In 1994, Peter Max created the artwork for the band Yes's album, Talk. In 2012, he was chosen to paint the outside of a cruise ship. It was the Norwegian Breakaway by Norwegian Cruise Line. The ship had a New York theme.
Peter Max has been the official artist for many big events. These include the 1994 World Cup, the Grammy Awards, and the Super Bowl. In 2000, he designed a special paint scheme for Dale Earnhardt's race car. He was also the Official Artist for the 2000 World Series. This was a baseball series between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.
Peter Max painted a portrait of Taylor Swift as a gift. This was to celebrate her Grammy-winning albums Fearless and Speak Now. He has painted new portraits of her since then.
Peter Max's Art Style
Peter Max's art is known for its bright colors. He often uses many colors from the rainbow. His work was first linked to the counter culture of the late 1960s. It also showed styles like neo-expressionism and neo-fauvism.
In 1970, Max published his first book, Poster Book. It was a collection of his art in poster form. It included a portrait of Toulouse Lautrec and a poster for Apollo 11. The book was very popular. He quickly released another book in 1971 called Superposter Book. This one had posters from his commercial work. It also featured posters about peace and love.
Peter Max works in many different art forms. These include painting, drawing, and printmaking. He also creates sculptures and digital art. He sees "mass media" as another way to share his art. He has worked with companies to create clothing, home goods, and clocks.
Max often uses American symbols in his artwork. He has painted portraits of several presidents. These include Kennedy, Ford, and Barack Obama. He also created "100 Clintons," which was a large display of multiple portraits.
He has designed the first "Preserve the Environment" postage stamp. He also created murals for US border entry points. His art has been shown in over 40 museums and 50 galleries worldwide. He often features celebrities, politicians, and sports events in his art.
One of Continental Airlines' planes had a design by Max on its side. His art was also shown on CBS's The Early Show. There, his "44 Obamas" was shown. This art celebrated Barack Obama, the 44th President. In 2013, a book of his memories was published. It was called The Universe of Peter Max. In it, he shares stories about his life and thoughts about his art.
Personal Life
Peter Max married Elizabeth Ann Nance in 1963. They later divorced in 1976. He also had a long relationship with musician Rosie Vela. He was also connected to actress Tina Louise. Peter Max married Mary Balkin in 1997. She passed away in June 2019.
Peter Max cares deeply about the environment. He is a vegan, meaning he does not eat animal products. He also supports human and animal rights. In 2002, he helped rescue a cow named Cincinnati Freedom. This cow escaped from a slaughterhouse in Ohio. Peter Max donated $180,000 worth of his art to help animals. This helped the cow find a permanent home at Farm Sanctuary.
Peter Max lives in New York City. He has two adult children, Adam Cosmo Max and Libra Astro Max.
Images for kids
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Max in 1998
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A U.S. postage stamp designed by Peter Max for Expo '74.
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One of Max's art galleries in Las Vegas in 2008.
See also
In Spanish: Peter Max para niños
