Peter Max (1937–2026) was born in Berlin and moved with his family to China at a young age. His childhood took him across Tibet, Africa, Israel, and Europe before his family settled in the United States. In New York, Max studied at the Art Students League, Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Arts. After closing his design studio in 1964, he began developing the paintings and graphic prints that defined his career. Rising to prominence in the 1960s with his “Cosmic ’60s” style, Max became known for bold linear compositions, vivid Fauvist color, and transcendental themes. As his work evolved into a more sensuous, painterly form of neo-expressionism, his distinctive symbolism and vibrant palette continued to influence generations of Americans. Max was also a committed environmentalist and advocate for human and animal rights, often creating posters and paintings in support of those causes. His art celebrated American ideals of freedom and democracy through iconic subjects such as the Statue of Liberty and the American flag. His major commissions included the first “Preserve the Environment” postage stamp for Expo ’74 in Spokane, Washington; 235 border murals for U.S. entry points to Canada and Mexico commissioned by the U.S. General Services Administration; and a painting of each of the 50 states for the Bicentennial book Peter Max Paints America. In 1981, President and Mrs. Reagan invited him to paint six Liberty portraits at the White House. Max created work for five U.S. presidents—Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton—including his well-known “100 Clintons” installation in 1993. His art has been exhibited in more than 40 museums and over 50 galleries worldwide and appears in prominent museum and private collections, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York.