Peter Max was born in Berlin
in 1937, and spent his childhood in China, Tibet, Africa, Middle
East, Europe, and finally settled in the United States. His
pan-cultural background has made his work rich in artistic
diversity. From the calligraphy of the Buddhist monks to the
Classical statuary in Parisian gardens, Max was inspired by the
elegance of the line which gives birth to form.
In New York Max attended the Art Students
League, Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts. After
completing his studies he opened a design studio and in the next
few years won more than sixty-five awards for product, fashion,
food, book, and poster designs.
In the 1960s Max rose to youthful
prominence with his famous won style, a bold linear type of
painting which employed shocking color juxtapositions and
depicted transcendental themes. As his expressionistic style
evolved, becoming more sensuous and painterly, his unique
symbolism and vibrant color palette have continued to inspire
new generations of Americans throughout the decades. In 1964 he
closed the studio to go into "creative retreat." It was then
that he began making the colorful, mind-expanding silkscreen.
His second retreat was from 1972 until 1976, during that time he
created the first "Preserve the Environment" Postage Stamp
commemorating Expo 74 for the World Fair in Spokane, Washington.
In 1976, he was selected Max to paint 235 border murals at entry
points to Canada and Mexico, at the same year, he created a
painting of each of the 50 states, resulting in a book, Peter
Max Paints America, dedicated to the Bicentennial.
In 1981 he painted six liberty portraits
for the America President and Mrs. Reagan, and in 1993, his
famous ‘100 Clintons’ installation. Max has painted for five
American presidents; Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton.
Max has had approximately forty museum
shows internationally, and more than fifty gallery shows
worldwide. His works appear in the prominent collections of many
museums, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York |