1981-Present
Works in the Collection
Biography
Robert Peterson born in 1981 in Lawton, Oklahoma, is a contemporary artist. He is known for figurative portrait paintings that represent African American life. According to Peterson, his work explores themes of “diversity, injustice, and the beauty of Black skin, employing a naturalistic style akin to editorial photography.”
Peterson was the first African American to be named Artist of the Year in Southwest Oklahoma. Peterson’s work is part of collections, including the Brooklyn Museum, NY, and Wichita Art Museum, KS. In 2023, the United States Postal Service featured one of his portraits in their Black Heritage Series. Peterson also had a solo exhibition called, “Robert Peterson: Homecoming,” at the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, OK