Peter Max An Art Icon

Peter Max emerged as a powerful force in the art world.  The American illustrator and graphic artist has exhibited his work in hundreds of museums and galleries worldwide. As such, Peter Max and his vibrant colors have become part of the fabric of contemporary culture.

His work speaks for itself. As a part of the American pop-culture scene, he is influencing generations of art enthusiasts. In addition to being called a Pop Icon, Max has also been called a successful Neo Fauvist, Abstract Expressionist, and the United States “Painter Laureate.” The esteemed artist has had the distinct honor of painting the last seven Presidents of the United States and the world’s best-loved celebrities; among them, the young sensation Taylor Swift.

A lot could be said about Peter Max, but what comes across very clearly is his immense love for American culture, and his deep appreciation for the various art forms that have influenced his work.

RAINE: How has living in Paris influenced your art?

MAX: Well, Paris and everywhere else influence me. I am so lucky. When I was a little boy, maybe 2 or 3-years-old, my father—although he was a very successful businessman—used to draw a little bit. I thought I would fiddle around with drawing too, and he liked it what I did. I remember my mother got me these crayons one day, and to the left of where my father used to sit, there was a very big beautiful peach wall. I took my crayons and went to draw on the wall. My mother said, “No, no! Don’t draw on the wall,” and my father said,   “No, no! Let him.” He encouraged me. Thus, I drew on the wall and added to it every day. After four or five days, my mural was about ten feet wide. When anyone would come to the house, my mother would show it off. This built me up. It developed my love for art and being recognized for it.

RAINE: When you think of your art now, how do you think it influences present day art?

MAX: Well, you know, it is interesting. Today, we are of course living in a media age; media is all around us. You can’t go out of your house without being touched by media. As you walk outside, there are newspapers on the doorsteps. As you go further, there are cars with advertising on them. You go to the corner, and there is a guy selling 40 different newspapers, and 60 to 80 different magazines. You go to your television set, and you’ve got like a 1000 different channels.

When I was a little kid living in China, we got our first radio, and there were two or three Chinese stations. One day, I turned up the radio, and they were playing American music. I asked my mother, “What is that?” and my mother said, “Oh, it’s an American station,” and after that, I went to that station every day. That was when I fell in love with American culture!

Then, American soldiers came to Shanghai. My father had a tenant who had a 19-year-old daughter. People were talking about how she was going out with an American soldier. I saw him pick up the girl; I guess he took her out and she introduced me to him. I remember that  the  guy was chewing gum. He said to me, “Hey kid, what’s happening?” I liked the way he talked to me—it sounded so cool! That was when I fell in love with American soldiers and all the style that they had, and the freedom they represented. I became the biggest American fan ever.

Also, my friend’s father owned a Chinese theater, which he converted into a movie theater, so I would watch movies there, three or five days a week.  I love American culture; I would watch Lionel Hampton and Betty Goodman; I enjoyed the way they would play music, including American jazz. I was just completely taken away by what came out of this beautiful country called America—jazz, bee-bop, and the blues.

RAINE: How do you think your art is influencing American culture?

PETER MAX: It is right there with the music! When I was fairly young—maybe 23-years-old—Life Magazine did a cover story of me and it had 11 pages. Since Life Magazine until today, I have been on 2600 magazine covers.

RAINE: Where do you get your inspiration?

Peter MAX: All I need is the desire and will to be creative. I put the canvas on the easel, I open my paints, and there I am. I have a bunch of brushes, the music begins playing, and I just go at it. I don’t even plan what to do. You know, it’s like dancing on the floor—you don’t know what steps to take and what you will be doing five minutes from now, you just go at it and let it happen.

RAINE: What are some of your other interests?

MAX: I am very much into creativity, color, composition, and yoga meditation. I love all of that stuff!