His art had a bright, happy vibe
Those dark allegations contrasted with the relentlessly bright, happy vibe that infused his work. “The colors are strong, sometimes loud, sometimes raw and sometimes harmonious, but always powerful, and the images are always on the side of the peaceful nature,” he said. “I don’t discuss in my paintings negative things, I don’t dwell on it in my mind and don’t dwell on it in my canvasses.”
In another interview, he summed it up like this: “I see everything through rainbow eyes.”
Although accounts of Max’s career sometimes lament that he was not taken seriously by the art establishment, in fact his work has been featured in dozens of museum exhibitions around the world. New York’s Museum of Modern Art owns seven of his works.
The art for the Beatles’ “Yellow Submarine” is sometimes mistakenly attributed to Max, but the design for the album cover and “Yellow Submarine” movie are officially credited to the late Heinz Edelmann. Max claimed in a 2012 interview he did the original “Yellow Submarine” design before handing it off to Edelmann. But the website for New York’s Park West gallery, a longtime dealer of Max’s art, described Max’s involvement in “Yellow Submarine” as “early consulting work.”
- Early Journey: Born in Berlin, his Jewish family fled the Nazi regime in 1938. They lived in Shanghai, Israel, and Paris before moving to Brooklyn, New York, when he was a teenager. He later studied realism at the Art Students League of New York. [1, 2, 3]
- Commercial Success: Max was an immensely successful commercial artist. His distinct designs appeared on massive platforms, ranging from a Boeing 777 aircraft and a Norwegian Cruise Line ship to postage stamps, the Manhattan Yellow Pages, and millions of college dorm room posters. [1, 2, 3]
- Portraits & Public Art: Over his decades-long career, he painted official portraits for six sitting U.S. presidents (including Bill Clinton) and created 235 "Welcome to America" border murals. He also designed works for modern icons like Taylor Swift. [1, 2, 3]
- Official Event Artist: Max served as the official artist for high-profile global events, including the Olympic Games, the FIFA World Cup, the Super Bowl, and the Grammy Awards. [1, 2]
- Philanthropy & Legacy: He spearheaded massive fundraising efforts, including teaming up with the Reagan administration to raise $350 million for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, an American icon he painted annually every Fourth of July. [1, 2]
