Peter Max was a German-American artist known for using bright colors in his work. He was famous for artwork featuring posters of Day-Glo flowers, butterflies, rainbows, stars, and planets. Max passed away in September 2026 at the age of 88 due to complications from dementia.
Peter Max Biography
| Full Name | Peter Max Finkelstein |
| Nickname | Peter Max |
| Profession | Artist |
| Date of Birth | 19 October 1937 |
| Age | 88 years old (at the time of death in September 2026) |
| Birth Place | Berlin, Germany |
| Nationality | German-American |
| School | Lafayette High School |
| College | Not know |
| Education Qualification | Graduated |
| Gender | Male |
| Zodiac Sign | Libra |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Religion | Christianity |
| Date of Death | 14 September 2026 |
| Place of Death | New York City, USA |
| Cause of Death | From dementia |
Peter Max Age
Peter Max (Peter Max Fincelstein) was born on 19 October 1937 in Berlin, Germany, and has dual citizenship in Germany and America. He was 88 years old at the time of his death in September 2026, and his zodiac sign was Libra.
Peter Max Wife | Children
| Marital Status | Widower (at the time of death) |
| Affairs/Girlfriend | Elizabeth Ann Nance Mary Balkin |
| Spouse/Wife | Elizabeth Ann Nance (m. 1963, div. 19786) Mary Balkin (Mary Max) (m. 1997, died in 2019) |
| Children | Son – Adam Cosmo Max Daughter – Libra Astro Max |
Peter Max Family
| Father’s Name | Jakob “Jacob” Finkelstein (businessman) |
| Mother’s Name | Salla “Sala” Finkelstein (fashion designer) |
| Brother’s Name | None |
| Sister’s Name | None |
Career
- 1956– Began his formal art training at the Art Students League of New York
- 1962 – Co-founded “The Daly & Max Studio” in Manhattan.
- 1967 – Designed the flyer for the famous Central Park “Be In” hippie gathering
- 1968 – Achieved mass household recognition with his psychedelic, rainbow-hued ads for 7UP’s “Uncola” campaign.
- 1969 – Appeared on The Tonight Show and on the cover of LIFE magazine.
- 1970-1971 – Overwhelmed by commercial demand, Mx “hit pause” on graphic licensing.
- 1980s – Shifted style toward Neo-Expressionism
- 1990s – He served as the official artist for five Super Bowls.
- 2000 – Began selling his posters on QVC
- 2015 – Due to advancing Alzheimer’s-related dementia, he officially stopped painting.
Peter Max Height And Weight
| Height (Approx) | In centimeters – 175 cm In meters – 1.75 m In feet & inches – 5’9” |
| Weight (Approx) | In kilograms – 73 kg In pounds – 161 lbs |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Black |
Peter Max Net Worth
German-American artist Peter Max had an estimated net worth between $50 million and $65 million at the time of his death in September 2026. His earnings came from original paintings, prints, graphic design, licensing agreements, commercial projects, and business ventures.
| Net Worth (Approx) | $50 million to $65 million (at the time of death in September 2026) |
| Real Estate | A multi-floor studio building in Lincoln Center in New York City |
| Income Sources | Paintings, business, licensing, etc. |
Some Interesting Facts About Peter Max
- Peter Max was born in Berlin, the son of Sella and Jakob Finkelstein, German Jews.
- In 1938, his family fled Berlin, settling in Shanghai, China, where they lived for 10 years.
- In 1948, his family moved to Haifa, Israel, where they lived for several years.
- After nine months in Prish, Max and his family made their final move, settling in Brooklyn, New York.
- He attended Lafayette High School, classmates with future actor Paul Sorvino.
- In 1962, Max started a small Manhattan arts studio known as “The Daly & Max Studio” with friend Tom Daly.
- In 1967, he solidified his place as a counter-cultural icon by designing the flyers for the second ever “Be In”
- He was featured on the cover of Life magazine’s September 5, 1969, edition.
- In 1970, many of Max’s products and posters were featured in the exhibition “The World of Peter Max.”
- On July 4, 1976, Max began his Statue of Liberty series landing to his efforts with Chrysler CEO Lee Iacocca.
- In 1990, Max purchased a collection of Chevrolet Corvettes for an intended art project.
- Max first painted Taylor Swift’s portrait as a gift to the singer for her Grammy-winning album Fearless and Sepake Now.
- His artwork was featured on CBS’s The Early Show, where his “44 Obamas” commemorated Barack Obama.
- In 1997, he was indicted by a grand jury in U.S. District Court for federal income tax evasion.
- Max married his first Wife, Elizabeth Ann Nance, in 1963, and they divorced in 1976.
- He had a nine-year-long relationship with musician and model Rosie Vela that ended in 1985.
- Max married Mary Balkin in 1997, who died by suicide in June 2019.
- He was an environmentalist, vegan, and supporter of human and animal rights.
- In 2021, it was reported that Max had developed advance Dementia.
- Peter Max died on September 14, 2026, at the age of 88 from complications of dementia.
FAQ:
How old was Peter Max?
88 years old (at the time of his death)
Who is Peter Max’s wife?
Peter Max was married twice and had two children.
What was Peter Max’s net worth?
At the time of his death, Peter Max’s net worth was around $50 million to $65 million.
What happened to Peter Max?
Artist Peter Max died of dementia on 14 September 2026.
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