A Brief History of Psychedelic Art

By PsychedBox Team · February 5, 2026 · 7 min read

Psychedelic art is as old as human consciousness. From Mayan mushroom stones to Alex Grey's translucent energy paintings, visionary experiences have shaped art across centuries.

Ancient Roots

Mayan mushroom stones dating back to 1000 BCE. Tassili cave paintings in Algeria circa 7000 BCE show mushroom-headed shamans.

The 1960s Explosion

Wes Wilson's iconic San Francisco concert posters. Peter Max's psychedelic color palettes in mainstream pop art.

The Visionary Art Movement

Alex Grey, Android Jones, and Amanda Sage pushed psychedelic art into fine art galleries.

Psychedelic Art Today

Digital tools, AI, projection mapping, and VR create immersive visionary experiences. At PsychedBox, every monthly puzzle portrait is a piece of this tradition.