peter kuttner
Peter Kuttner graduated with his Bachelor’s of Fine Art from Ringling College of Art & Design in Sarasota, Florida. His work has been featured in Architectural Digest Magazine as well as in popular films and television shows including Two and a Half Men, Californication, and Nashville. Recently he has had two solo shows at Kelsey Michaels Fine Art in Laguna Beach, California. Other recent shows include Spectrum Miami, the Architectural Digest Home Design Show and the ArtExpo Show in New York. Presently, Peter’s work is on display in a number of museums as well as private, royal, and corporate collections worldwide. In 2016, he became part of the permanent collection of the International Museum of Collage in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Artist Statement
When I’m painting, I tend to yield to the spontaneous development of the artwork. I allow gravity and evaporation to become my allies in creating each piece. I enjoy being a mere observer in the organic processes that occur without human influence, both inside and outside of the studio. The ethereal quality of my work is created one thin layer at a time with great care and patience. The organic aesthetic that these dozens of layers create cannot be replicated by any hurried methods– they must be left to develop on their own. The heart of my life and work is conservation. Apart from creating an aesthetic, I try to create each piece as conscientiously as possible. I try to create zero-waste art.
In my Cut-Out Series, I use a process not unlike that of Matisse. The economy of design and the utilitarian simplicity therein allow for the creation of simple, archetypal pieces. I use familiar yet abstracted details to suspend the viewer in contemplation of the universality of imagery. Using negative shapes and emphasizing spacial relationships, I carefully consider scale and balance. Works in this series are meant to be lively, colorful, utopian, and uplifting. It is in these works where I feel most connected to my background in art, design, and illustration.
The Sailboat paintings capture the spirit of adventure and the call of the sea, inviting viewers into serene coastal towns where life moves at the gentle rhythm of the tides. These paintings evoke the nostalgic charm of quaint harbors, where sailboats drift lazily past weathered docks and sun-bleached cottages. The compositions are infused with the scent of salt air and the whisper of distant waves, suggesting hidden stories waiting to be discovered. In these peaceful seaside scenes, the sailboats become metaphors for life's journey—setting forth from familiar shores into the vast unknown, embracing both the tranquility and unpredictability of the open water.
The Hot Air Balloon paintings capture the enchantment of drifting skyward, where gravity loosens its grip and the world below becomes a patchwork of colors and shapes. Each painting transports viewers to a moment of quiet ascent, where balloons rise gently over rolling hills, distant villages, and sun-dappled fields. The scenes feel like a journey to forgotten places—hidden valleys and winding rivers glimpsed only from the sky—inviting a sense of exploration and wonder. In these works, the balloons are both vessels and symbols, lifting the spirit and encouraging viewers to imagine what new horizons might lie just beyond the clouds.
The Floral paintings are a lyrical exploration of nature’s symphony, where each bloom tells its own story amidst the vibrant tapestry of life. These paintings evoke the feeling of stepping into a secret garden, where petals unfold like whispers and colors sing softly in the afternoon light. The flowers, with their intricate layers and delicate textures, are not mere subjects but characters in a scene—each one reaching toward the sun, swaying in a gentle breeze, or quietly unfurling in hidden corners. The compositions invite viewers to pause, breathe, and find solace in the quiet beauty of nature’s continuous dance, reminding them of the resilience and grace that flourish in even the smallest details.