Peter Max

Peter Max (born Peter Max Finkelstein, October 19, 1937) is a German-American artist known for using bright colours in his work. Works by Max are associated with the visual arts and culture of the 1960s, particularly psychedelic art and pop art.

Peter Max
Peter Max in 1998
Born
Peter Max Finkelstein

(1937-10-19) October 19, 1937
Berlin, Germany
NationalityGerman
EducationArt Students League of New York
Known forPainting, pop art
MovementPop art

Early life and education

Max was born in Berlin, the son of German Jews, Sala and Jacob.[1] They fled Berlin in 1938, settling in Shanghai, China, where they lived for the next ten years.[2] In 1948, the family moved to Haifa, Israel, where they lived for several years. From Israel, the family continued moving westward and stopped in Paris for several months—an experience that Max said greatly influenced his appreciation for art—eventually settling in Brooklyn, New York City.[3]

Max and his parents first settled in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, in 1953 where he attended Lafayette High School, classmates with future actor Paul Sorvino. In 1956, Max began his formal art training at the Art Students League of New York in Manhattan, studying anatomy, figure drawing and composition under Frank J. Reilly who had studied at the League alongside Norman Rockwell.[4]

Career

1960s

In 1962, Max started a small Manhattan arts studio known as "The Daly & Max Studio," with friend Tom Daly. Daly and Max were joined by friend and mentor Don Rubbo, and the three worked as a group on books and advertising for which they received industry recognition. Much of their work incorporated antique photographic images as elements of collage. Max's interest in astronomy contributed to his self-described "Cosmic '60s" period, which featured what became identified as psychedelic, counter culture imagery. Max's art was popularized nationally through TV commercials such as his 1968 "un cola" ad for the soft drink 7 Up which helped drive sales of his art posters and other merchandise.[5]

Max appeared on The Tonight Show on August 15, 1968.[6] He was featured on the cover of Life magazine's September 5, 1969 edition under the heading "Peter Max: Portrait of the artist as a very rich man."[7]

1970s
U.S. postage stamp featuring Max's artwork commemorating Expo '74

In 1970, many of Max's products and posters were featured in the exhibition "The World of Peter Max," which opened at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco.[8] The United States Postal Service commissioned Max to create the 10-cent postage stamp to commemorate the Expo '74 World's Fair in Spokane, Washington, and Max drew a colorful psychedelic scene with a "Cosmic Jumper" and a "Smiling Sage" against a backdrop of a cloud, sun rays and a ship at sea on the theme of "Preserve the Environment."[9] According to The New York Times, "His DayGlo-inflected posters became wallpaper for the turn on, tune in, drop out generation."[10]

On July 4, 1976, Max began his Statue of Liberty series leading to his efforts with Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca to help in the restoration of the statue.[11] Also in 1976, "Peter Max Paints America" was commissioned by the ASEA of Sweden. The book project commemorated the United States Bicentennial and included the following foreword: "Peter Max Paints America is based on works of art commissioned by ASEA of Sweden on the 200th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, in sincere recognition of the historic bonds of friendship between the people of Sweden and the people of the United States, recalling that Sweden was one of the first countries to extend its hand in friendship to the new nation."[12]

1980s–present
One of Max's art galleries, at The Forum Shops at Caesars in 2008

Max has been the official artist for many major events, including the 1994 World Cup, the Grammy Awards, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Super Bowl and others.[4] In 2000, Max designed the paint scheme Dale Earnhardt drove at the Winston all-star race, deviating from Earnhardt's trademark black car.[13] He was also the Official Artist of the 2000 World Series, the "Subway Series" between the New York Yankees and the New York Mets.[14]

Max first painted Taylor Swift's portrait as a gift to the singer for her Grammy-winning albums Fearless and Speak Now, and has recently painted new portraits of Taylor Swift to commemorate her worldwide success.[15]

Max is on the Board of Selectors of Jefferson Awards for Public Service.[16]

In 1989, Max designed the cover photo—as well as the 45 rpm single picture-sleeve photo—of Aretha Franklin's Through the Storm album.

In 1990, Max purchased a collection of Chevrolet Corvettes for an intended art project,[17] but never used them and let them rot in a series of garages.[18]

In 1994, Max designed the artwork for progressive rock band Yes's fourteenth studio album, Talk. In 2012, he was chosen to paint the hull art of the New York themed ship Norwegian Breakaway by Norwegian Cruise Line.[19] In 2017, Max did the cover art for the Aug/Sept issue of AARP magazine.[20]

In 2019, The New York Times published an investigative journalism piece on Max’s current state, revealing that he is suffering from advanced dementia, that he is now often unaware of his identity and his surroundings, and that his deteriorated mental state has been exploited in a massive art fraud scheme dating back to at least 2015.[2]

Work

Max's art work was first associated with the counter culture, neo-expressionism,[21] and psychedelic movements in graphic design during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He is known for using bursts of color, often containing much or all of the visible spectrum. His work was influenced by others. Max's repeated claims, varying in detail, to have worked on Yellow Submarine have been denied by the production team.[22]

Max works in multiple media including painting, drawing, etchings (including aquatint), collage, print making, sculpture, video and digital imagery. He also includes "mass media" as being another "canvas" for his creative expression.[4]

Max often uses American icons and symbols in his artwork. He has created paintings of presidents Ford, Carter, Reagan and Bush in addition to his 100 Clintons—a multiple portrait installation. Additional commissions have included the creation of the first "Preserve the Environment" postage stamp, in honor of the World's Fair in Spokane, Washington; border murals at entry points to the United States from Canada and Mexico; and exhibitions in over 40 museums and 50 galleries worldwide.[23] He often features images of celebrities, politicians, athletes and sporting events and other pop culture subjects in his artwork.[4]

One of Continental Airlines' Boeing 777-200ER aircraft (registered N77014) sported a livery designed by Max.[24] His artwork was featured on CBS's The Early Show where his "44 Obamas," commemorating Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was debuted.[25] In 2013, HarperCollins published a book of the artist's memoirs and thoughts called The Universe of Peter Max. In it, he relates stories of his life as well as descriptions and thoughts surrounding of some of his artwork.[26]

Personal life

Max married his first wife Elizabeth Ann Nance in 1963 and they divorced in 1976.[2] Max had a nine-year-long relationship with musician and model Rosie Vela that ended in 1985.[27] He was also romantically connected with Tina Louise.[2][28] Max married Mary Balkin in 1997;[2] she died by suicide (nitrogen asphyxiation) in June 2019.[29]

In November 1997, Max pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal district court to charges of concealing more than $1.1 million in income from the Internal Revenue Service in connection with the sales of his works between 1988 and 1991. The plea came two days before he was to go on trial on an 11-count conspiracy and tax fraud indictment. Under the deal, he pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to defraud the IRS and a charge of tax evasion, telling a federal judge that he had taken payments in cash, deposited customers' checks into his personal account and arranged other transactions to avoid tax liability.[30] In June 1998, he was sentenced to two months in prison and a $30,000 fine. The federal judge ordered Max to pay the taxes he owed and to perform 800 hours of community service.[31]

Max is an environmentalist, vegan and supporter of human and animal rights.[32][33] In 2002, Max contributed to rescue efforts for Cincinnati Freedom, a cow that escaped from an Ohio slaughterhouse. The cow jumped over a six-foot fence while the slaughterhouse workers were on break and eluded capture for eleven days. Max donated $180,000 worth of his art to benefit the local Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, part of a chain of events that finally led to the cow being sent to Farm Sanctuary in Watkins Glen, New York, a permanent home where the cow remained for the rest of her life.[34]

Max lives in New York City and has two adult children, Adam Cosmo Max and Libra Astro Max. Max has developed advanced dementia, largely the result of Alzheimer's disease.[2]

References
  1. "Current Biography Yearbook". 1972.
  2. Chozick, Amy (28 May 2019). "Dementia Stopped Peter Max From Painting. For Some, That Spelled a Lucrative Opportunity". The New York Times. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  3. Chozick, Amy (May 28, 2019). "Dementia Stopped Peter Max From Painting. For Some, That Spelled a Lucrative Opportunity". The New York Times.
  4. Riley II, Charles A. (2002). The Art of Peter Max (1st ed.). Abrams, New York. pp. 228–235. ISBN 0-8109-3270-9. Retrieved 2008-12-10.
  5. "7 Up video". Youtube.com. Archived from the original on 2013-04-19. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  6. "Television Log," Long Beach (CA) Press Telegram, 15 August 1968.
  7. 1969 June 6 Life Magazine - The Moon - Edward Villella. "Life Magazine Cover". Lifemagazineconnection.com. Archived from the original on 2013-01-28. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  8. Max, Peter (1970). The World of Peter Max exhibition. Archived from the original on 2014-01-11. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  9. Iqzero.net and Dick Sine (1974-04-18). "Expo 74 Postage Stamp". Usstampgallery.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  10. Amy Chozick (2019-05-28). "Dementia Stopped Peter Max From Painting. For Some, That Spelled a Lucrative Opportunity.". nytimes.com. Retrieved 2019-05-28.
  11. "Statue of Liberty series". Articles.orlandosentinel.com. 2010-11-12. Archived from the original on 2013-12-27. Retrieved 2012-04-11.
  12. Zurbel, Victor (1976). Peter Max Paints America (1st ed.). Acropolis Books Ltd., New York. p. 1. ISBN 0-87491-042-0.
  13. "Dale Earnhardt and Peter Max Combine for Colorful Weekend". Archived from the original on 2016-03-19. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  14. "MAYOR GIULIANI AND MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL LAUNCH SUBWAY SERIES WITH PROCLAMATION FOR "PLEDGE YOUR ALLEGIANCE" WEEK". Archived from the original on 2015-06-02. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  15. Itzkoff, Dave (2010-12-10). "It's Taylor Swift, by Peter Max, in a New Pop-Art Portrait - The New York Times". Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-18. Retrieved 2017-08-17.
  16. "Jefferson Awards". Archived from the original on 22 August 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2015.
  17. "Forgotten Corvette collection emerges from the dust after 25 years". Yahoo Autos. 23 December 2014. Archived from the original on 27 December 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  18. "Long Forgotten Corvette Collection Rediscovered". Restomods.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  19. "Peter Max On NORWEGIAN BREAKAWAY". Archived from the original on 2015-07-09. Retrieved 2015-04-13.
  20. "Article on Peter Max cover for AARP magazine". Archived from the original on 2017-08-10. Retrieved 2017-08-10.
  21. "What is Expressionism? The Art of the Emotional Over the Physical". Park West Gallery. 2019-07-19. Retrieved 2019-07-19.
  22. Hieronimus, Robert R. "Inside the Yellow Submarine". Krause Publications, 2002. Pgs 81-90.
  23. "Peter Max (German/American, b. 1937)". American Fine Art Editions, Inc. Archived from the original on 23 December 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2015.
  24. "The Max Collector". Themaxcollector.com. Archived from the original on 30 December 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  25. "Painter Peter Max At Work". Cbsnews.com. Archived from the original on 1 November 2013. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  26. Max, Peter (2013). The Universe of Peter Max. United States: Harper Design. ASIN B007679EDY.
  27. Pooley, Eric (Nov 3, 1986). "Facing The Music". New York Magazine. New York Media, LLC.
  28. "PETER MAX first marriage with Elizabeth (Liz) Nance". The Max Collector. Retrieved 28 May 2019.
  29. Feuerherd, Ben (June 11, 2019). "Mary Max, wife of famed artist Peter Max, kills herself in Upper West Side apartment". New York Post. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  30. "Pop Artist Peter Max Pleads Guilty to Charges of Tax Fraud". The New York Times. 11 November 1997. Archived from the original on 29 December 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  31. "Peter Max Jailed for Tax Violations". Archived from the original on 2016-03-04.
  32. Gross, Eric. "Peter Max Receives Preserve Putnam Award". Putnam County Courier. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  33. Allen, Jolia. "One on One With Peter Max". Vegetarian Times. Archived from the original on 11 October 2011. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
  34. "Remembering Cincinnati Freedom: The Legendary Cow Who Escaped a Slaughterhouse". onegreenplanet.org. Archived from the original on 2018-05-26. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
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