OllieP

So, following my two-man show in February 2013—which went really well—I took a long break from painting seriously.

I was burned out from preparing the show and stepped away for a bit, but then found it difficult to return.It didn't help that I had ideas for new work and was planning to make a transition, but then attended the three Hamptons art fairs last summer and found that my ideas were pretty much exactly related to all the hottest new painting and art trends...and that kind of grossed me out. I had unwittingly been moving toward super slick, commercial work. Perhaps I was subconsciously trying to sell more paintings—who knows?

Well, I spent the last eight months taking lots of toy photographs and enjoying the hell out of it, but it's time to get back in the painting saddle. (Toy art may come later..we'll see)

I just posted "Succession," my newest piece for a show that opens this weekend, on Saturday, June 21 at the Jackson Carriage House in Amagansett.

Event listing here: events.danspapers.com/event/grand-royale/?event_start=2014-06-21

Next weekend, I'm in another show called "Irrational Portrait Gallery," featuring all these large photographs of the artists, by the inestimable Rick Wenner, printed on canvas larger than life. Artists then paint, etc on top of the photos. It's new Southampton Arts Center's (a brand new museum/cultural hub in the Hamptons) very firstmajor art show, and I'm really excited. Robert Edwin of FRESH Art Long Island set it up. I've worked with Robert and FRESH before, and I love what they/we do. Check out the show site at: irrationalportraits.com

Finally, Elisa Contemporary, my gallery in Riverdale, NY, is reprising its popular "Super Hero" show in a special Hamptons exhibition at The Design Studio in Bridgehampton this August. More on that to come.

So, I've got a full plate, but I'm thrilled to be back in the painting game.

If you want to check out my toy photos, visit my Instagram account @oliversees

Thanks for coming back and reading.

-Oliver

So, my "Objects" two-man show with Ray Colleran on Feb 2-3 was a huge hit.
We got a lot of really great press and a killer turnout, especially for the Hamptons in February.
Sold a few pieces and got a lot of interest for possible future sales and/or commissions.

People really went crazy for "Truth and Memory," which is a 5 x 6-foot commissioned piece (you can find it in my gallery) that I displayed more to show my commissioned work and what I can do for collectors interested in having a personalized painting.

As far as sales, I sold mostly small ATCs, which are turning out to be a really great way for people to get some of my work without spending a lot of money, while I make a few bucks at the same time. I also sold "Haereticae Pravitatis (The Heretic), which is a figurative sculpture I just posted on DA. This was an independent show that wasn't through any of my galleries, so we had to pay for the space and the opening, but after all was said and done, we covered all expenses and made a decent profit, so I'm really thrilled.

Breaking even would have been good enough, considering all the people who got to see the body of work. It was also nice to get some good, quality articles written about us. I've had some good press before, but it's usually as part of a group show, so this was better because the critics/reporters got to write about all the work and us as friends and artists.

Ray's girlfriend Katia photographed the entire installation and we are considering doing something cool with the photos, like making a little book or something.

In the meantime, I just opened a little, itty bitty show of small works at this antiques place in Southampton. I was asked to do it during the "Objects" show, so I figured, why not?

My wife Colleen Peterson is showing her work there next, which is really fantastic. She hasn't shown much at all and I think her work will do really well there. It's perfect for the place, anyway. Hopefully people go there.

Finally, with all the recent interest in my ATCs, I've been making more, at long last...

Keep your eyes peeled for those, and some other pieces I have yet to post, coming soon. (I also recently found some ATCs and postcards I was supposed to finish for collaborations ages ago. My apologies, folks. I'm doing them now!)

Thanks for reading and following and taking an interest in me and my work. I really appreciate all the comments, faves and follows.

Hi, folks. I'm so excited to announce that I am having my second two-man show with Ray Colleran at Ashawagh Hall in Springs, which is in the town of East Hampton, NY.

Here's the press release!

Also look for articles about the show on Hamptons.com (right now) and SagHarborOnline.com (late in the coming week).

OBJECTS:
A Two-Man Show with Ray Colleran and Oliver Peterson

Saturday-Sunday, February 2-3
Reception: Saturday, Feb. 2, 5-9 p.m.
Open 12–5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Ashawagh Hall, 780 Springs Fireplace Rd. in Springs

Objects marks Ray Colleran and Oliver Peterson's second two-man exhibition at Ashawagh Hall in Springs. The friends and frequent artistic cohorts introduced their work to the East End in their first show, Burlap and Book Pages, in 2006, and they have since shared two studios and frequently consult one another about the progress of their individual work.

Both artists have been named Long Island Pulse magazine Artist VIPs (in 2008 and 2012) and they have exhibited around the East End and elsewhere, separately and together, in various group shows.

Objects examines and celebrates these artists' love of art as fetish—the inanimate and tangible manifestation of the visceral, intellectual and intangible. The show will include paintings and sculptural works by Colleran and Peterson, as well as a few surprises, including an "Art Automat" and a selection of small Artist Trading Cards (ATCs), so collectors and admirers can bring something home, no matter what their budget.

Oliver Peterson is mixed media artist who works with collage and paint to create thoughtful compositions that often play with juxtaposition and narrative. His work can be cryptic, full of personal iconography and frequent references to pop culture, history, anatomy and the occult.

Ray Colleran employs a wide breadth of materials and unique approach to his complex mixed media work. Starting with vintage book pages, the artist uses scrawled text, doodles and splashes of color to expose a subconscious dialogue, fraught with his hopes, fears and obsessions, as well as an ongoing commentary about war, love, madness and the American id.

Just finished my birdhouse for the 8th Annual Birdhouse Auction
Benefiting the Coalition for Women's Cancers at Southampton Hospital
80 Artists
Saturday, October 13, 2012; 5:30 to 8pm
Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction 5:30pm/Live Auction 7pm
Tickets are $25/$30 at Door 631.726.8715
To Be Held @ Peter Marcelle Gallery
2411 Main Street, Bridgehampton, NY

Information, press, absentee bidding @ 516.318.0000


Will post photos later today!

Hi, everyone.

I'm just posting a new summer update.

Everything is going well with my work, though I wish I had more painting hours and less work hours.

I have two shows opening this weekend, August 10-12.

Two of my pieces will be displayed at "Corpus Illuminata II - An Anatomic Interpretation" at Tangent Gallery in Detroit, MI.
Opening Reception 6pm-12am on Friday, August 10. Show continues to the 11th.
www.corpusilluminata.org

The show is an exciting anatomically themed exhibition with work from artists around the country. They will also have a showcase of medical antiquities and guest speakers/presenters discussing the science of anatomy, psychology and more.  human autopsies, artistic interpretations and more. Video installations within the venue will be feature films and videos ranging from historical medical experimentations, human autopsies and artistic interpretations.

There will also be a bazaar for the sales and trading of antiquities and related merchandise as well as a public auction of personally collected pieces. (This is stuff you'd see on that show Oddities)

www.corpusilluminata.org

I'm also finishing a piece right now for "The Mystic Depths: Mermaids" show at Terrence Joyce Gallery in Greenport on Long Island
Opening Reception 5pm-8pm on Saturday, August 11.
Terrence Joyce Gallery, 114 Main St, Greenport, NY 11944.
Terrence Joyce Gallery is pleased to announce it's first annual in depth exploration into the mysterious unknown. A fully interactive experience, patrons are encouraged to participate in any way they would like, costumes are more than welcome! Come for the reception and stay for the "Mermaid Parade" after party, right here at the gallery.

Should be fun. I was asked to make a mermaid piece for this, so I thought it would be a fun challenge slightly outside my wheelhouse. So far so good.

Finally, I just received word that Elisa Contemporary will be featuring my stuff at the NYC Affordable Art Fair in October.

Other than that, I'm still working on the 6-foot commission and trying to make work that is not specifically for a show or a commission. I realize, of course, these are not bad problems to have.

Thanks for following and thanks for the faves.

-Oliver