Robert Peterson Summons Black Resilience and Tenderness in Vibrant Portraits
“The Prophet” (2025), oil on canvas, 48 x 30 inches. All images courtesy of the artist and albertz benda, New York and Los Angeles, shared with permission
Robert Peterson Summons Black Resilience and Tenderness in Vibrant Portraits
March 20, 2025
Art
Kate Mothes
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In characteristically glistening blue hues, Robert Peterson’s striking portraits invite us into emotionally complex inner worlds.
Peterson centers the Black body in paintings that challenge dominant narratives surrounding Black lives, celebrating beauty, compassion, and resilience. Tender portraits reveal the essential humanity of vulnerability and individuality with an emphasis on themes of empathy and togetherness.
“Protect Those Tears” (2025), oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches
Peterson’s choice of oils, a traditional portrait medium, embeds his work in the continuum of Western painting. However, instead of highly stylized scenes or elaborate ornamentation, his figures are often set against bold, flat backgrounds and they appear half-dressed or in casual clothes, unguarded and relaxed.
In his forthcoming solo exhibition, We Are Forever at albertz benda, Peterson examines familial connections, paying homage to the strength and dedication inherent in the relationships between siblings and parents and their children.
“At the core of this new body of work is a profound sense of intimacy, offering a thoughtful reflection on presence and the enduring significance of his subjects’ stories,” the gallery says.
We Are Forever runs from March 27 to May 3 in New York. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.
“Untitled (Purple)” (2025), oil on canvas, 18 x 14 inches
“Water Me” (2025), oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches
“Hamsa Tattoo” (2025, oil on canvas, 28 x 22 inches
“Untitled (Black)” (2025), oil on canvas, 18 x 14 inches
Installation view of works at the Dallas Art Fair
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