Capturing a Generation: The Work of Peter MaxBy Stephanie

It has been said that Peter Max has “revolutionized art of the 60’s just as the Beatles transformed the music of the decade” and has “virtually redefined the role of the artist in American culture.” The German-American artist spent his childhood in China, (after his family left Germany) which made a profound impact on his style of art. Among other places, his family traveled to Africa, Israel, and spent several months in Paris before finally immigrating to the United States.

Max's Developing Style and Works

After attending The Art Student's League in New York, Peter took an interest in graphic art and photography, in which he combined realism to create a completely unique style. His creative contemporary style, having been influenced by his rich cultural experiences as a child, gave birth to his psychedelic artwork in the 60’s as well as his “Cosmic 60’s” line of artwork. His work was shown primarily through various commercial means such as album covers and magazines.

In the 70’s and 80’s he worked on his famous paintings of the Statue of Liberty. These paintings are deeply patriotic, they celebrate American freedom, and they employ his classic style of vibrant, juxtaposed colors.

The Legacy and Meaning of Max

I was enthralled by his unusual creativity and love of color, while keeping in touch with realism in the form of his subject. Looking specifically at his paintings of the statue of liberty, I was immediately struck by his rendition of the face—she is full of determination and confidence. Striking colors surround her crown, creating a truly unique piece of art; signature for Peter Max.

Max's subject has been flexible within the realm of realism. Having done a series of paintings with the American flag, painting for four U.S. Presidents, and creating posters and stamps for U.N events such as Summit of the Americas and Earth Summit, Peter Max’s paintings of the statue of liberty capture only a portion of patriotism and global citizenship in his artwork.

This patriotism and global citizenship in Max's Statue of Liberty pieces can still be viewed today. Baterbys Art Gallery will be hosting an American Masters Exhibit, complete with works by contemporary American Artist Peter Max, whose revolutionary artwork incorporates a new, creative style, while still using traditional artistic sophistication.

His artwork is strikingly beautiful, full of life and carries a unique depth that is likely to be attributed to his diverse artistic experience, his mastery of various forms of artwork—painting, photography, sculpture, computer graphics, and engravings, among many others—as well as his curiosity and appreciation of the world around him. Throughout his career, Peter Max used his artwork to spread the message of freedom, individualism, and peace. Peter Max has captured a generation’s dreams and legacies.



*Note: the first quote was common among many websites, however there was no citation of who originally stated it. And the second quote was on Peter Max’s website, stated by art historian Malcom Genet.