Robert Peterson

Lawton, Oklahoma based artist Robert Peterson (b.1981) has firmly situated himself within an art historical narrative of portraiture. His depictions of contemporary African American life celebrate diversity and address injustice. Set against minimal backdrops, these works meditate on the beauty of Black skin and the sensual qualities of paint through shifts in tone and color.  Shades of blue emphasize the musculature of Peterson’s subjects with a sense of tenderness. Peterson translates images of celebrities, community members, and his family with a naturalism that recalls the stylistic approach of editorial photography. Often directly addressing the audience, these figures are imbued with a quiet dignity that offers the viewer an opportunity to linger and reflect.

Peterson is recognized as the first African American ever to receive the title Artist of the Year in Southwest Oklahoma. In 2023, the United States Postal Service featured the artist’s portrait of author Ernest J. Gaines on the 46th Forever Stamp in their Black Heritage Series. Recent exhibitions include Robert Peterson: Homecoming, Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK and Reflections, albertz benda, New York, NY. His work can be found in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, New York, NY; Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa, OK; Weisman Museum of Art, Minneapolis, MN; Wichita Art Museum, Wichita, KS; and the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, FL.