The Neo-Expressionist PETER MAX

Although for avid collectors such as me, the most coveted MAX’s items are the ones produced during late Sixties through the end of the Seventies, including masterpieces reproduced in optimal quality Lithograph series, it’s hard to refute that his quasi mass production of the “best Sellers” we are so familiar nowadays, are generating a high level of curiosity, if you will, and a big cash flow for the New York Studio. PETER is a restless worker, an art cyborg of mixed media, whereas his patriotic themes such as the Statue of Liberty in all its forms and shapes, and the American Flag, are perhaps the big hits, and the collections that created that Quantum leap he had during the exciting decade of the Eighties, let alone the plethora of versions of the LOVE “ritornello”.

For the aficionado of his work, I suggest that a division easy to understand and follow is to divide the collections in four basic sections: 1) Memorabilia, items he franchised such as clothing, toys, baseball cards, miniature cars, umbrellas, inflatable pillows, etc. 2) Posters and mass media prints, be it signed by MAX or not 3) Mixed media pieces, whereas a pre-printed paper or canvas is finally completed in acrylic only by the hand of the artist 4) The real thing, as I define the originally hand painted with acrylic exclusively on canvas. Pricewise, its understood that the originals on canvas are most expensive and can reach prices well over $150.000. In this more exclusive groupage of pieces, I believe that canvases of 30 x 40 inches of the Liberty Head, the Blushing Beauty, the Umbrella Man, a Better World and Roseville Bouquets, among others, are my favorites, and the market price stands around $ 40.000 each.

As decoration for a modern home or office, the most common item will be the small 8 X 10 or 11 X 13 inches mixed media papers that carry the Max signature and touch, yet with a lower ticket price of around $ 1.200.

PETER MAX is 73 years old ( October 2010, his birthmonth), he is perhaps on of the last living legends of the Sixties art Revolution and completely MADE IN THE USA, thus, not only we all should support his effort and tenacity, but we should pass his legacy to the next generations that so vividly embrace technology but completely omit the sensibility of art in all its expressions. I for one, have my Ipad fully “skinned” with MAX’s motifs, including the screensaver, and my collection already surpases the 425 pieces.