Family of famed pop artist Peter Max, 84, say he's being abused by court-appointed guardian

Publish date: 2024-06-28

The family of dementia-suffering artist Peter Max have accused his court-appointed guardian of abuse, claiming she has forced him into 'involuntary isolation'. 

German-born Max, 84, became an icon in the global art world in the 1960s. He now lives in New York City and has been under the care of court-appointed guardian Barbara Lissner for the last three years. 

Now, Peter's 55-year-old daughter Libra is fighting to break the guardianship. She alleges that Lissner has stolen or wasted $16million of his fortune, and that she is keeping him away from friends and family. It's not clear exactly what Max's net worth is.

In 2019, Max's second wife Mary took her own life amid claims that she was exploiting his dementia for financial gain. 

After her suicide, New York appointed Lissner to be Max's guardian. In the years since, she says Lissner has locked her father away from everyone who loves him. 

Artist Peter Max, 84, is shown in a recent video posted online by his daughter Libra who says he is trapped in an abusive guardianship. Max has Alzheimer's and his daughter says he is being held in 'involuntary isolation'

Artist Peter Max, 84, is shown in a recent video posted online by his daughter Libra who says he is trapped in an abusive guardianship. Max has Alzheimer's and his daughter says he is being held in 'involuntary isolation' 

Peter Max shown in 2012 before his Alzheimer's set in. He is a well-known figure in the art world and best known for his bright, colorful work

Peter Max shown in 2012 before his Alzheimer's set in. He is a well-known figure in the art world and best known for his bright, colorful work

Peter Max has been under the care of court-appointed guardian Barbara Lissner for the last three years

Peter Max has been under the care of court-appointed guardian Barbara Lissner for the last three years

She has shared videos of him explicitly telling her that Lissner is not in control of who he is and isn't allowed to see. 

In her most recent court filing on Tuesday, Libra said that Lissner is deliberately withholding information about her father's health from her. 

'My father should never have been put into a guardianship in the first place, and he should not be in one now. 

'[He] has a loving daughter, me, and he has been begging for me to come care for him, just as my father did for his own father. 

'It is our family culture to care for our own,' she told Rolling Stone. 

On a website campaigning to end the guardianship, Peter's family says: 'After three years of isolation, Peter’s loved ones fear he is losing his will to live.

Peter was being cared for by his wife Mary (shown together in 2018) until she killed herself in 2018 amid accusations that she was abusing him and had tried to kill him

Peter was being cared for by his wife Mary (shown together in 2018) until she killed herself in 2018 amid accusations that she was abusing him and had tried to kill him 

Peter's 55-year-old daughter Libra (pictured together) is now campaigning to end his guardianship, saying she and her brother Adam are the only people who should be in charge of his affairs

Peter's 55-year-old daughter Libra (pictured together) is now campaigning to end his guardianship, saying she and her brother Adam are the only people who should be in charge of his affairs 

'His health has steeply declined; he appears dangerously over-medicated and his  family and friends fear for his life.' 

'Peter is gentle, loving, and a deeply sensitive man. Everyone close to him knows that he thrives with companionship and suffers without it.'

The family claims he has had his phone confiscated to prevent him from arranging his own visits, and that Max's adult children must file written requests whenever they want to see him. 

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They also say that the guardian has 'depleted' her father's fortune 'with millions being paid, without his permission, to the court-appointed guardians and attorneys who now control all aspects of his life.' 

A letter asking the court to undo the guardianship has received more than 10,000 signatures on the family's website.  They allege guardianship abuse.  

Peter Max with Britney Spears in a photo posted on the artist's Instagram page

Peter Max with Britney Spears in a photo posted on the artist's Instagram page 

Peter Max with family friend Michael Lang who is among more than 100 people campaigning for an end to the guardianship

Peter Max with family friend Michael Lang who is among more than 100 people campaigning for an end to the guardianship 

Lissner did not immediately respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment on Wednesday. 

Peter's wife Mary had been in charge of his affairs until her suicide in 2019. She had been also been accused of abusing him by his household staff and children. 

Peter's health problems began in 2012 when his ability to create art started to diminish. 

He and Mary had, at that point, been married since 1997. Libra and her brother Adam are Peter's children from his first marriage. He and Mary did not have children together. 

According to The New York Times, around the time of her death, Mary - who was 30 years younger than her husband - had been accused by the children of trying to kill Peter. 

Both Adam and Libra had large shares in their father's art studio, the paper reported.  

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