Peter Max, the influential artist known for his vibrant, psychedelic designs that defined the 1960s 'flower power' movement, has died at age 88.

Peter Max, the German-American artist whose colorful, kaleidoscopic work became a hallmark of 1960s pop culture, died on Monday at age 88. His death was announced by his son, Adam Max, while his spokesperson, Michael Pagnotta, stated that the artist died at a Manhattan hospital following a battle with Alzheimer’s disease.

Career and Artistic Legacy

Max’s career began in the 1960s, quickly gaining traction for his bold, accessible style that featured vivid colors like neon green, turquoise, and orange. His work, which often included cosmic figures and floral motifs, appeared on everything from posters and household goods to postage stamps and the covers of the Manhattan Yellow Pages. He was featured on the cover of Life magazine in 1969. Beyond his commercial success, Max served as the official artist for numerous major events, including the Olympics, the Super Bowl, and the World Cup. His art was also displayed on large-scale projects, such as a Boeing 777 airplane and a Norwegian Cruise Line ship, and he created portraits of subjects ranging from U.S. presidents to Taylor Swift.

Early Life and Background

Born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937, he fled Nazi Germany with his Jewish family while still an infant. The family spent approximately a decade in Shanghai before living in Tibet, Israel, and Paris. They eventually settled in New York City when Max was 16. He pursued formal art training at the Art Students League, the School of Visual Arts, and the Pratt Institute.