Peter Max, a renowned German-American artist, was born Peter Finkelstein in Berlin to Jewish parents who fled Nazi Germany in 1938. He settled with his family in Shanghai and later Hong Kong before emigrating to the United States in 1947 at the age of ten. In Brooklyn, New York, Max discovered his passion for art, sketching comics and street scenes on his subway commutes. Max studied at the Art Students League of New York and was exposed to various techniques. He gained recognition through his Pop Art style, which merged popular culture imagery with bold hues and psychedelic energy. His posters, album covers, and illustrations became synonymous with America's youthful spirit in the mid-1960s. Throughout his career, Max expanded beyond galleries, creating large-scale public commissions and collaborating with corporate clients. Despite commercial success, he maintained a deep interest in spirituality and Eastern philosophies. He continued to explore new media and techniques until his recent diagnosis of dementia in 2019. Today, Peter Max's influence is evident in the work of contemporary artists who draw on his joyful approach to color and form. His legacy endures through his boundless energy and optimism, inspiring hope in generations to come.