Petersen Robert

Born in the quaint farm town of Le Mars, Iowa in 1945, Robert Petersen’s artistic journey began with his family’s move to Whittier, California in 1952. His formal education as an artist unfolded at Fullerton Community College in 1963, where his fascination with architectural drafting blossomed into a passion for drawing, painting, and printmaking. His pursuits led him to California State University, Long Beach in 1966, where he honed his skills in printmaking under the tutelage of Robert Evermon, a former printer at the esteemed Tamarind Lithography Workshop.

Petersen’s career trajectory took a significant leap in 1969 when he joined Gemini G.E.L. as an assistant printer, collaborating with renowned artists such as Frank Stella, Roy Lichtenstein, and Robert Rauschenberg. His role as a head printer for Rauschenberg’s Stoned Moon series marked the beginning of a pivotal friendship and professional partnership. This connection led Petersen to Captiva Island, Florida, where he worked alongside Rauschenberg at his newly established residence and studio.

In 1971, the duo founded Untitled Press, Inc., an experimental print shop that attracted notable artists like David Bradshaw, Brice Marden, Hisachika Takahashi, Cy Twombly, and Robert Whitman. On Captiva Island, Petersen lived and collaborated with Rauschenberg until 1980, immersing himself in the exploration of monochromatic minimalist work and the rich possibilities offered by his intricate sketch pages.

Petersen’s innovative technique of crafting monthly journal drawings from his sketchbook highlights emerged in 1976, encapsulating daily observations, future project drafts, musings, and collected ephemera. This method laid the foundation for his ongoing artistic endeavors.

His first solo exhibition at Galerie Sonnabend in Paris, France in 1973 heralded a series of solo and group exhibitions across the globe. Petersen’s works have found homes in prestigious private and public collections, including the Centre Georges Pompidou, Musée National d’Art Moderne in Paris, The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the François Pinault Collection in Venice, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation in New York, and many more.

Today, Robert Petersen continues to create and innovate from his workspace in Tivoli, New York, where he resides with his wife, Cinda Sparling, and their daughter, Lena.