Mary Max, 52-year-old wife of famed pop artist Peter Max, 81, kills herself in their Manhattan apartment amid a bitter legal battle with his children over the icon's fortune
- Mary Max was found dead of an apparent suicide in her Manhattan apartment on Sunday night
- The 52-year-old, who was found dead by a friend, died of nitrogen asphyxiation
- She is the wife of 81-year-old famed pop artist Peter Max
- Her death comes amid a bitter legal battle with other members of the Max family about Peter's artwork and his declining health due to dementia
- Mary's stepson sued her in 2015 accusing her of attempting to kill his father so that she could take control of his multi-million dollar art collection
- The legal battles between his family continued in court with Mary accusing her stepson of stealing $4.3m of artwork given to her in a prenuptial agreement
Mary Max, the wife of celebrated artist Peter Max, killed herself in her apartment on Manhattan's Upper West Side over the weekend.
The 52-year-old was found dead in the couple's 15th floor apartment on Riverside Drive near West 84th Street on Sunday night, according to police.
Mary, who was found dead in the apartment by a friend, died of nitrogen asphyxiation.
Her death comes amid a bitter legal battle with other members of the Max family about her 81-year-old husband's artwork and his declining health.
Peter, her husband of more than 20 years, suffers from an advanced form of dementia.
Mary Max (right), the wife of famed pop artist Peter Max (left), has died of suicide. Pictured in 2009
Mary had been embroiled in a ongoing feud with her stepson Adam Max ever since he sued her in 2015 after accusing her of attempting to kill his father so that she could take control of his multi-million dollar art collection.
In turn, Mary accused her stepson of stealing $4.3million worth of artwork that her husband had given her in a prenuptial agreement.
The artist's mental state has deteriorated significantly in recent years as the legal battles between his family have continued in court.
Mary asked a court four years ago to appoint a guardian to oversee her husband's business after Adam and three business associates took over the artist's studio.
They increased production and profit through a series of art auctions on cruise ships.
But sources told the New York Times that Peter was too ill and hadn't seriously painted for about four years.
They claimed that Peter was just signing his name to other artists work that mimicked the colorful and psychedelic style that made him such a hit with hippies in the 1960s and 1970s.
After the court granted Mary's request for a guardian, Adam removed his father from his home and moved him around New York for more than a month.
In a series of damning accusations, Mary accused Adam of concealing the whereabouts of Peter and effectively 'kidnapping' him.
Mary, 52, (right) was found dead in her apartment on Riverside Drive near West 84th Street on Sunday evening among a bitter legal battle with her stepson Adam Max, 49, about her 81-year-old husband's (left) artwork. Pictured together in 2018
She was found dead in her New York City apartment on Sunday, according to police
Peter has painted many icons and world leaders, in 2002, he presented a portrait to President Bill Clinton in New York
Berlin-born Peter (left) rose to fame in the 1960s, when he became known for his psychedelic art and pop art. He married Mary Baldwin (right) in 1997. Pictured together at the Humane Society of the United States to the Rescue Gala in 2013
Adam retorted that he was protecting his father from Mary's verbal and physical abuse, describing her as neglectful.
That view that was later supported by the guardian Mary appointed herself.
Members of household staff also accused Mary of neglecting her husband, saying she withheld food and even put 'large Brazil nuts' in his smoothies that acted as a choking hazard.
In a transcript of a recorded interview seen in court, Mary discussed with her driver about hiring a goon to intimidate her husband and to damage his painting hand.
However, one court-appointed lawyer claimed that Peter stated his love for his wife several times and that removing him from his home could have been detrimental to his well-being.
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A judge ordered Peter to be returned to his wife's care at their Riverside Drive home and that a guardian oversee both his business and personal affairs.
Peter's daughter Libra, who lives in Los Angeles, took over her father's studio in January and filed a lawsuit to stop her brother from being able to interact with the company.
Mary was the famed artist's second wife.
He married Elizabeth Nance in 1963 and the pair had two children, Adam Cosmo and Libra Astro, before they divorced in 1976.
He went on to have a string of high profile relationships before meeting Mary Balkin on a Manhattan sidewalk in 1996.
Mary, a blonde with a pixie cut, caught Peter's eye. He approached her and introduced himself saying: 'I've been painting your profile my entire life.'
They married a year later and the wedding was officiated by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani.
Peter pictured at home in New York in 1967, before he met Mary
In a transcript of a recorded interview seen in court, Mary discusses with her driver about hiring a goon to intimidate her husband and to damage his paining hand. But Peter has said he always loved Mary. Pictured together in 2017
Peter's artwork - renowned for its colorful and psychedelic style - made him a countercultural icon.
At the height of his popularity, he was creating art for the likes of the Super Bowl, World Cup, the U.S. Open, and the White House lawn.
His works featured on everything from bed sheets to cereal boxes, to postage stamps and a chunk of the Berlin Wall.
Peter later expanded his partnership with Park West Gallery and it became a name familiar to anyone who has vacationed on a major cruise line, including Royal Caribbean, Norwegian, and Carnival.
Cruise ship auctions provide the bulk of Park West Gallery's revenue and a 'Peter Max original' is their biggest sell for customers who are willing to pay up to $30,000 for one.
His name has become so intertwined with cruise ships - who can get as much as a 40 percent cut from Park West sales - that Norwegian even has an entire Peter Max-themed ship.
The ship's hull is adorned with his Statue of Liberty.
For confidential support call the National Suicide Prevention Line on 1-800-273-8255.
Peter famously painted world leaders, including Barack Obama (pictured), and even presented art to Bill Clinton
Who is Peter Max? The 1960s counter-cultural icon whose legacy has sparked a bitter feud in between his family
Berlin-born Peter rose to fame in the 1960s, when he became known for his psychedelic art and pop art.
The son of German Jews, born on October 19, 1937, he fled Berlin as a baby and grew up in Shanghai for the first decade of his life, before moving to and Israel and eventually settling in Brooklyn.
In the 1960s, he set up an art studio in Manhattan with his friend Tom Daly, soon he was well- known for his counter-culture pieces as he cemented himself at the heart of the Pop Art movement.
In 1963, Peter (pictured in 1967) married Elizabeth Nance, and the pair had two children, Adam Cosmo and Libra Astro. The pair divorce in 1976. He went on to have a string of high profile relationships, before meeting Mary Balkin on a Manhattan sidewalk in 1996
Peter Max with his first wife and son in October 1967 at his home in New York
He later was commissioned by the US Postal Service to create a stamp, and amassed his fortune through becoming the official artist for dozens of major events including the World Series, the 1994 World Cup, the Super Bowl, the Grammy Awards, and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
He has also been the official artist for the US Winter Olympics team and his work is very popular on cruise ship auctions. In 2015, he painted a cruise ship, part of Norwegian's fleet.
Peter Max pictured in his New York studio in 2012. He unveiled a series of portraits of Paul McCartney for his birthday
Peter's work is very popular on cruise ship auctions. In 2015, he painted a cruise ship, part of Norwegian's fleet, the Norweigan Breakaway (pictured leaving Southampton, England)
A 1960s icon, the artist was also friends with the Beatles and inspired the famous Yellow Submarine album artwork.
In 1963, he married Elizabeth Nance, and the pair had two children, Adam Cosmo and Libra Astro before they divorced in 1976.
He went on to have a string of high profile relationships, before meeting Mary Balkin on a Manhattan sidewalk in 1996.
Mary (second right) and Peter (third right) with Britain's Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex (second left) and music mogul Quincy Jones (left) at the Duke of Edinburgh Award Luncheon in New York in 2009. Also pictured, sex therapist Dr Ruth Westheimer (front) and event host David Hryck (right)
Peter (second right) and Mary (right) with Steven Tyler of Aerosmith and his wife Theresa (left), as Peter unveiled portraits of him in 1997
Mary, a blonde with a pixie cut, caught Peter's eye. He approached her and introduced himself saying 'I've been painting your profile my entire life.'
A year later they married. It was officiated by Mayor Rudolph W. Giuliani.
His twilight years became the subject of a bitter feud between his family, namely his wife Mary and son Adam.
The pair fought over the care of Peter, who is suffering from a severe form of dementia, and his pricey art collection.
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