# Peter Max, psychedelic pop artist, dies at 88

> The visionary behind flower power art that decorated everything from postage stamps to cruise ships has passed away.
- Title: Peter Max, psychedelic pop artist, dies at 88 · ABC7 New York
- Summary: The visionary behind flower power art that decorated everything from postage stamps to cruise ships has passed away. Peter Max transformed psychedelic art…
- Keywords: peter max, psychedelic art, pop art, flower power, 1960s, graphic design, artist death, american culture, dementia, art history, news, local
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/post/peter-max-dies-88-psychedelic-pop-artist-passed-away-monday-son-says/19841653
- Published: 2026-09-17T01:06:00+00:00
- Read time: 2 min
- Topics: peter max, psychedelic art, pop art, flower power, 1960s, graphic design, artist death, american culture, dementia, art history, news, local
## Psychedelic artist Peter Max dies
Peter Max, the colorful pop artist who defined the flower power movement of the 1960s, died Monday at 88. He had been suffering from advanced dementia.
## His art was everywhere in the 60s
Max's swirly, colorful designs epitomized the era's flower power aesthetic. Dorm room walls were plastered with his posters, and his designs appeared on clocks, bedspreads, and household furnishings.
## From postage stamps to cruise ships
Max was the official artist for the Olympics, Super Bowl, Indianapolis 500, World Cup, and World Series. His art appeared on a Boeing 777 airplane and Norwegian Cruise Line ship.
## He painted presidents and Taylor Swift
Max's portrait subjects ranged from U.S. presidents to contemporary celebrities like Taylor Swift. His work remained popular well into the 21st century thanks to his accessible, fun style.
## Born in Berlin, fled Nazi Germany
Max was born Peter Max Finkelstein in 1937 to a Jewish family in Berlin. They fled to Shanghai when he was a baby, later lived in Tibet and Israel, and settled in New York City when he was 16.
## He shut down his business to paint
By the early 1970s, Max's work appeared on 70 product lines but he felt it was being exploited. He closed his commercial business to reconnect with fine art and painting.

> "My work was really, I would say, almost exploited."
## Statue of Liberty series at the White House
After returning to public life, one of Max's biggest projects was a series of Statue of Liberty portraits painted at the White House in 1981 at the invitation of First Lady Nancy Reagan.
## Tax fraud conviction in 1997
Max pleaded guilty to tax fraud after the IRS alleged he concealed over one million dollars in income. He served time in a work-release program, paid back taxes and a 30,000 dollar fine, and performed 800 hours of community service teaching art in Harlem schools.
## Family disputes over finances and art
In 2015, disputes between his second wife Mary Max and his son Adam over finances and paintings became public. In 2019, Mary Max died by suicide two weeks after The New York Times published a story about the legal battles.
## He saw everything through rainbow eyes
Max's art maintained a relentlessly bright, happy vibe. He said he didn't discuss negative things in his paintings and saw the world through what he called rainbow eyes.

> "I see everything through rainbow eyes."
## Museums recognized his legacy
Despite sometimes being dismissed by the art establishment, Max's work was featured in dozens of museum exhibitions worldwide. The Museum of Modern Art in New York owns seven of his works.
## Key takeaway

Peter Max transformed psychedelic art into accessible pop culture that remained relevant for over 60 years, from dorm room posters to official Olympic artwork.