New Orleans, LA -
Peter Max's work has been exhibited across the country and around the world, from the M.H. de Young Museum in San Francisco to the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C., and from the White House to the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia. Perhaps more important, Max made fine art a household object of desire. The popularity of his paintings – signified not only by the numbers of his collectors but also by the numbers of products bearing his design concepts -- greatly increased public enthusiasm for art of all kinds.
His colorful cosmic-Zen imagery became the signature look of the '60s Flower Power era, and he went on to create an idealized mythology of characters expressive of the zeitgeist of the'70s, such as Zero Megalopolis, Neo Man, the Umbrella Man, the Sage, the Zen boat, and Blushing Beauty. Reminiscent of Toulouse-Lautrec, his limited edition work brought fresh vitality to the fine art poster. The '80s saw his development of a new style, fusing Pop art – including photography -- with Abstract Expressionism. The brilliant, multi-colored brush work in the paintings of this period also found its way onto new kinds of "canvases": giant murals, rock stage sets, racing cars, pianos, guitars, jet passenger aircraft, ceramics, water towers, footballs, telephone books – the list goes on.
Max has done for art what Carl Sagan did for astronomy, what Bobby Fisher did for chess, and what Stephen Hawkings did for physics. He made art an attainable entity in the popular consciousness. His art permeates our national culture, creating an expanded role for art in daily life. What was once the exclusive dominion of the private fine art collector became the passionate interest of a broad and deep public. As many artists will attest, despite his many museum shows, Peter Max blazed the path for artists to bypass the narrow confines of elite institutions and appeal directly to the public at large.
The Peter Max - Then & Now exhibit opens November 1, 2008 and runs through December 31st, 2008 at the Angela King Gallery on Royal Street in New Orleans. For more information visit angelakinggallery.com. 
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