Peter Max, the German-American artist whose colorful, psychedelic images defined much of the visual culture of the 1960s, died Monday in Manhattan. He was 88.

His son, Adam Max, confirmed the death at a hospital and noted that Max had long suffered from dementia. The artist passed away on September 14 from complications related to the condition.

Born Peter Max Finkelstein on October 19, 1937, in Berlin to a Jewish family, Max fled Nazi Germany as an infant with his parents. The family lived in Shanghai, Tibet, Israel, and Paris before settling in New York City when he was 16. He studied at the Art Students League of New York and built a career in graphic design that exploded in popularity during the counterculture era.

Max's work featured bright Day-Glo colors, swirling patterns, flowers, butterflies, stars, planets, and optimistic figures. His posters and prints sold by the millions and appeared on consumer products ranging from mugs and clothing to album covers. He secured licensing deals with dozens of companies and served as the official artist for events including the Olympics, Super Bowl, Indianapolis 500, World Cup, and World Series. His designs also adorned a Boeing 777 and a Norwegian Cruise Line ship.

Max became one of the most commercially successful artists of his generation, amassing significant wealth through his prolific output and business ventures. His accessible style kept his imagery popular well beyond the 1960s, with portraits of figures including presidents and Taylor Swift among his later works.

He is survived by his son Adam Cosmo Max and daughter Libra Astro Max. In a statement, Adam Max said the family would remember his father's extraordinary creativity, warmth, curiosity, and vision of beauty and possibility everywhere.

His art became part of American culture, but the man behind it is what the family will miss most.