Lot 353

Peter Max Mixed Media Lithograph "Cosmic Flowers" (1981)

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Lot 353
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Peter Max Mixed Media Lithograph "Cosmic Flowers" (1981)
Peter Max Mixed Media Lithograph "Cosmic Flowers" (1981)
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Peter Max Mixed Media Lithograph "Cosmic Flowers" (1981)

Estimate: $1,500 - $2,250

Starting Bid: $650

(0 Bids)
by Artemis Fine Arts
June 25, 2026 9:00 AM MDT (In Progress)
Live Auction
686 S. Taylor Avenue
Suite 108
Louisville, CO, US 80027

Ca. 1950 - 2000 CE. Peter Max (American, b. Germany 1937). "Cosmic Flowers" mixed media lithograph, 1981. Signed at lower center left beneath plate. A jubilant scatter of rounded, cartoonish blooms in cobalt blue tumbles across a ground of sun-yellow and warm orange, punctuated by looping gestural marks in red, a central mushroom-like form in rose and red, and freely drawn calligraphic flourishes that refuse to sit still long enough to be identified as anything other than pure visual energy. The composition has the loose, improvisational confidence of an artist who has internalized the psychedelic vocabulary of the 1960s so completely that by 1981 it flows from him the way a musician plays scales - effortlessly, with joy. The multicolor hand-drawn borders, in arcing lines of red, orange, blue, and green, extend beyond the printed image and into the surrounding paper, collapsing the distinction between the mechanical and the handmade and making each impression technically unique. Max's looping multicolor crayon signature below the image reinforces that intimacy. Presented in a white-painted wood frame with gilt liner.

About the artist: Born in Berlin, Peter Max moved frequently with his family, living in more than six countries until they settled in the United States. Max studied in New York City at the Art Students League, the Pratt Institute, and the School of Visual Art. Max has been revered as a visionary Pop Artist since the 1960's, beloved for his "Cosmic '60s" style which would later evolve to Neo Expressionism. Max developed a bold style of painting using striking Fauvist colors and intriguing themes. As he evolved from Pop to Neo-Expressionism, his work became more painterly and sensuous. Max's unique symbolism and vibrant color palette have continued to inspire new generations of Americans throughout the decades.

Provenance: Private Lafayette, Colorado, USA collection

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Item # 202111

  • Condition: Excellent. Excellent condition. Mounted behind glass in custom matte and frame with suspension wire on verso for display. Some scuffs and marks to frame; none of which affect mixed media. Has not been examined outside of glass but appears to be in excellent overall condition. Signed at lower center beneath plate.

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $299 $25
$300 $999 $50
$1,000 $1,999 $100
$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
$200,000 + $20,000