Peter Max, the influential artist whose colorful, cosmic-inspired work became a visual hallmark of the 1960s, has died at the age of 88. Born Peter Max Finkelstein in Berlin in 1937, his early life was marked by the upheaval of World War II. His family fled Nazi Germany, eventually living in Shanghai, China, and Haifa, Israel, before moving to New York City during his teenage years.

Max rose to prominence in the United States during the late 1960s, where his distinct style—characterized by bright, saturated colors and flowing, dreamlike imagery—became synonymous with the counterculture movement. His work appeared on everything from posters and album covers to mass-market consumer goods, effectively bringing fine art aesthetics into the mainstream commercial sphere. Throughout his career, Max remained a prolific figure in the American art scene, though his later years were marked by public legal battles regarding his health and the management of his studio. While the Times of Israel report focuses on his international upbringing and cultural impact, it notes his death as a significant loss for the art world.