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Peter Max Posters

American, German, b. 1937

Born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937, psychedelic Pop art icon Peter Max spent the first part of his childhood in Shanghai after his parents emigrated from Germany to flee the Nazis. While there, Max developed his deep interest in American pop culture — namely comic books, jazz and cinema. Max’s paintings, graphic design, prints and illustrations, which were inspired by these interests, were also informed by his experience with synesthesia, a sensory condition that causes him to see music and hear color.

After relocating to Haifa, Israel, then Paris, where he spent a significant amount of time in sketching classes at the Louvre, a teenage Max and his family finally moved to the United States, settling in Brooklyn. Max enrolled in the Art Students League of New York in 1956, training under Frank J. Reilly, and then the School of Visual Arts. Throughout art school, Max focused on photorealism, but he found the style too restrictive. When he graduated and opened his graphic design studio with friends in 1962, he began experimenting with abstraction and color — just in time for the psychedelic era.

The technicolor works for which Max would become known are characterized by big and bold graphic qualities — not dissimilar to what you’d find in his beloved comic books. Some deeper themes emerged across his work too: Max spent a good portion of the 1960s and 1970s creating his signature cosmic style, inspired by his fascination with astronomy and Eastern philosophies.

For Max and his partners, the graphic design business was highly successful, with commissions rolling in from advertising agencies, magazines and even Hollywood in the form of movie posters. The artist was featured on the cover of Life in 1969, and by the 1970s, he was practically a household name.

Max's body of work extended into product design, including a line of clocks for General Electric, while his domination of the commercial art scene continued for decades. He was commissioned to paint a postage stamp honoring the World’s Fair of 1974 (Expo ‘74); a Statue of Liberty series in which some proceeds went on to fund the statue’s restoration; posters and other advertising materials for major events like the Super Bowl, the U.S. Open and the Grammys; a Dale Earnhardt race car; and even the hull of the Norwegian Breakaway cruise ship.

Commercial activities aside, Max has long been the subject of many museum exhibitions, from his first solo show in 1970, “The World of Peter Max,” at the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco to 2016's “Peter Max: 50 Years of Cosmic Dreaming” at the Tampa Museum of Art in Florida. Today, his work belongs to the collections of the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Philadelphia Museum of Art and other institutions.

Find original Peter Max lithographs, paintings, signed art and other works for sale on 1stDibs.

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Creator: Peter Max
Health Is Beautiful 1971 U.S. Poster
By Peter Max
Located in New York, NY
Original 1971 U.S. poster by Peter Max for Health Is Beautiful (1971). Very Good-Fine condition, rolled. Please note: the size is stated in inches and the actual size can vary by an ...
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1970s American Vintage Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paper

Peter Max Toulouse Lautrec 2 Signed Pop Art Retro Vintage Lithograph Poster 1967
By Peter Max
Located in Keego Harbor, MI
A psychedelic retro lithograph titled "Toulouse Lautrec 2" by iconic pop artist Peter Max. Hand signed in red felt tip marker on the mid bottom. Printed on premium paper and copyrigh...
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1960s Vintage Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paper

Vintage "South Coast Village" Poster by Peter Max
By Peter Max
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage "South coast village, Santa Ana, California" poster by Peter Max, circa 1973. The poster announces the grand opening of the shopping center in Augu...
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Mid-20th Century American Expressionist Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paper

Peter Max “The World of Peter Max” Museum Exhibition Serigraph Poster ‘B', 1969
By Peter Max
Located in San Francisco, CA
A rare original 1969 serigraph poster by Peter Max (American, b. Germany, 1937) for his 1970 “The World of Peter Max” museum exhibition tour. Max’s ...
Category

1960s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paint, Paper

Vintage "The Challenge" Poster by Peter Max Central Park Road Race, 1988
By Peter Max
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage "The Challenge" poster by Peter Max, circa 1988. The poster was for a 10K road race in Central Park, NYC to benefit special needs runners. The poster is...
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Mid-20th Century American Expressionist Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paper

Heart Poster Signed by Peter Max & Andre Agassi
By Peter Max
Located in San Diego, CA
Vintage “Grand Slam for Children A Concert for Tomorrow” / Heart lithograph poster signed by Peter Max and tennis great, Andre Agassi, circa 1995. The concert was held at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, NV on September 30, 1995 and featured Elton John, Robin Williams, Kenny G, Michael Bolton...
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Late 20th Century American Expressionist Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paper

Peter Max 12-Foot-Wide Serigraph for 1970 de Young Museum Solo Exhibition ‘B’
By Peter Max
Located in San Francisco, CA
An important, monumental, and exceptionally rare twelve-foot-wide two-piece serigraph created by Peter Max (American, b. Germany, 1937) for his 1970 “The World of Peter Max” first so...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paint, Paper

Peter Max 12-Foot-Wide Serigraph for 1970 de Young Museum Solo Exhibition ‘A’
By Peter Max
Located in San Francisco, CA
An important, monumental, and exceptionally rare twelve-foot-wide two-piece serigraph created by Peter Max (American, b. Germany, 1937) for his 1970 “The World of Peter Max” first so...
Category

1970s American Mid-Century Modern Vintage Peter Max Posters

Materials

Paint, Paper

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Untitled Poster by Peter Phillips for Jabik & Colophon, 1970
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Peter Max “The World of Peter Max” Museum Exhibition Serigraph Poster ‘A', 1969
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Mid-Century Modern Framed Peter Max Self Portrait Poster, 1960s
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For your consideration is a captivating, framed self portrait poster, by Peter Max, circa 1968. In very good vintage condition. The dimensions are 35" W x 47" H.   
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Contemporary Modern Framed Poster Signed Peter Max with Stamps 1992 COA
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For your consideration is a fantastic, framed poster, with stamps, signed by Peter Max, dated 1992, with a COA. In excellent vintage condition. The dimensions are 30" W x 28.5" H.   
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Peter Max posters for sale on 1stDibs.

Peter Max posters are available for sale on 1stDibs. These distinctive items are frequently made of paper and are designed with extraordinary care. There are many options to choose from in our collection of Peter Max posters, although blue editions of this piece are particularly popular. Many of the original posters by Peter Max were created in the mid-century modern style in united states during the 20th century. If you’re looking for additional options, many customers also consider posters by Milton Glaser, Stan Galli, and David Klein. Prices for Peter Max posters can differ depending upon size, time period and other attributes — on 1stDibs, these items begin at $250 and can go as high as $5,775, while a piece like these, on average, fetch $1,050.

Creators Similar to Peter Max

Questions About Peter Max Posters
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Peter Max is originally from Berlin, Germany. During World War II, his family lived in Shanghai, China. As an adult, the artist lived in Haifa, Israel; Paris, France; and New York, New York. You can shop a range of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Peter Max is an artist known for creating colorful pop art compositions. He was born on October 19, 1937, in Berlin, Germany, and eventually made Brooklyn, New York his home. Some of his most famous works include Without Borders, Blushing Beauty, Better World and Love. Shop a range of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 13, 2024
    Peter Max was born in Berlin, Germany, in 1937. However, he spent the first part of his childhood in Shanghai, China, after his parents emigrated from Germany to flee the Nazis. While there, Max developed his deep interest in American pop culture, namely comic books, jazz and cinema. Shop a collection of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    No, Peter Max is no longer painting. Reportedly, he stopped painting in 2015 due to health problems. Some of the artist's most famous works include Without Borders, Blushing Beauty, Better World, Deco Lady and Flag with Heart. Find a variety of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Peter Max uses a variety of media to produce his colorful compositions. Many of his pieces are paintings. He also produces collages, prints, sculptures, digital art and films. During the course of his career, he received commissions to create posters for the Super Bowl, the Grammys and the U.S. Open. Shop a collection of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    The kind of art that is associated with Peter Max is colorful and bold — the psychedelic Pop art that characterizes the majority of the German-born American artist's paintings and prints owes to an interest in comic books, jazz and films that he developed in his youth. Max's work is also informed by his experience with synesthesia, a sensory condition that causes him to see music and hear color. Find a collection of original Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertMarch 22, 2022
    Peter Max is best known for producing vibrant, bold paintings that draw inspiration from psychedelic and pop art. His famous works like Without Borders, Blushing Beauty, Better World and Love are popular contemporary wall art and are often sold as prints and posters. Shop a selection of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertFebruary 22, 2021
    How much a Peter Max painting is worth will be determined by its condition, the presence of a signature, size and other factors. Born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937, psychedelic Pop art icon Peter Max spent the first part of his childhood in Shanghai after his parents emigrated from Germany to flee the Nazis. While there, Max developed a deep interest in American pop culture — namely comic books, jazz and cinema — that would inform his bold and graphic paintings. His prints can be found for less than approximately $1,000 but his paintings have sold for between $10,000 and $20,000 over the years. Find original Peter Max paintings on 1stDibs.
  • 1stDibs ExpertApril 5, 2022
    Peter Max's connection to the Statue of Liberty is that he created multiple paintings of the famous landmark. He made the first one for America's Bicentennial on July 4, 1976. You can shop a range of Peter Max art on 1stDibs.

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