Woodstock Kiss Photograph Arrives on Lunar Surface

The photograph captures two people kissing at the Woodstock music festival in 1969. The image has now left Earth. Artist Roger “MaXi” Sichel confirmed this week that the original print of the scene, titled “Smokin’ Hot Kiss,” has reached the surface of the Moon. The delivery was part of a commercial spaceflight mission.

Sichel stated that the photograph traveled aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The destination for the artwork is the Lunaprise Lunar Museum. A second piece by the artist, called “Stars & Stripes NYSE,” also flew on the same vehicle. Both works are now physically present on the lunar surface according to Sichel’s account.

The artist described the journey as a major milestone in his career. He noted that the photograph represents a moment of peace shared by half a million attendees during the 1969 festival. Sichel said the image resonates with him because it captures a specific historical moment of human connection. He framed the lunar delivery as a continuation of the story begun on that weekend.

Sichel has worked in the art field for decades. His current process combines photography with digital tools and AI. He describes his method as moving from the eye to the screen and then to physical media such as canvas or plexi. He often adds paint, gold leaf, texture, and real crystals to his final pieces. He said his work lives in multiple worlds, including photojournalism, modern painting, and futuristic pop culture interpretations.

The artist is currently hosting an exhibition at The HUB in Bridgehampton, New York. The show, titled “Meet the Artists,” ends the weekend of October 31. The display centers on the “Smokin’ Hot Kiss” photograph. Visitors have been recreating the pose in front of the large print. Other works in the room include his “Someday My Prince Will Come!” painting and a series of florals finished just before the show opened.

Sichel also mentioned that the lunar-bound works are available in a virtual setting. They are presented in the Metaverse Moon Museum, which is hosted at the Faena hotel in Miami Beach. He noted that this allows viewers to see the pieces in a digital environment that mirrors their physical location on the Moon.

The artist is based in Sag Harbor, New York. His primary gallery presence is at Romany Kramoris Gallery on Main Street. He also shows work in Beverly Hills and Miami. Sichel sells reproductions of the Woodstock image on apparel items such as denim jackets and t-shirts. He said he is open to collaborations with partners across different industries.

Sichel emphasized the rarity of authentic human moments in a digital age. He said that while AI can generate images, a real kiss between two real people remains a distinct record. He pointed to young people buying photographs from the 1960s as evidence of renewed interest in that era. He credited the enduring nature of real emotion as the driving force behind his work.