Peter Max

Peter Max is a famed illustrator and graphic artist who specializes in Pop Art and Neo Expressionism. He is known for his generous use of vibrant colors. Max was born in Berlin, Germany but his family relocated to Nazi Germany. Then they settled in Shanghai, China, where they lived for 10 years and after moved to Haifa, Israel. They stayed there for a few years and then spent a few months in Paris, France.

It was in Paris where Max learned to appreciate art. He took art classes at the Louvre museum while his family lived there. In 1953 his family moved to the United States and settled in Bensonhurst, New York. In 1956, Max began his first formal art training at the Art Students League of New York under the tutelage of Frank J. Reilly. He went also studied at the School of Visual Arts in New York City

In 1962, Max along with Tom Daly, started a small art studio in New York City. Don Rubbo eventually joined The Daly & Max Studio and the three worked together to create advertising images. Max's popularity grew when he created the advertising campaign un-cola for 7-Up in 1968. In 1970, the M.H. de Young Memorial Museum in San Francisco, CA, opened its exhibit The World of Peter Max, which featured various products and posters. In 1976, he began his Statue of Liberty series to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the United States.

Max has painted for six US presidents and has artworks on display in various US embassies. In 1993 he painted his famous 100 Clintons installation. Max has also been the official artist for numerous major events such as the Grammy Awards, the 1994 World Cup, and the Super Bowl. His painting "44 Obamas," which depicted Barrack Obama as the 44th president of the United States debuted on The Early Show. Max currently lives and works in New York City.