Timeline

Peter Kuttner was born and raised near Boston Massachusetts and on the rugged coast of Maine. The time Peter spent living near the beach influenced his subtle palette of cool blues and greens, warm golds and rich reds, hues that are complicated by the atmospheric clarity he finds in the arid southwest. His excellent training as an illustrator is evident in the dimensional sophistication of his paintings. He approaches each canvas with a keen technical acuity while simultaneously yielding to the spontaneous development of the work. Peter’s strong foundation in drawing also affords him the luxury of retaining a formality of line while articulating a broad range of expression in his paintings. His attention to detail is a primary concern. He hand-finishes each canvas, resolving every painting to a very particular level of complexity.

Kuttner’s sophisticated understanding of dimensionality cuts across his entire body of work, creating a coherent and seamless aesthetic. He exploits the painted plane as a structure of opportunity for depth by layering textures, colors and finishes. His technical skill, paired with an organic style, and neutral palette captures the tension between city life and the inevitability of quite moments to be found there. He considers the textures of urban existence, from our emotional responses to the physical environment to the everyday practical concerns of inhabiting a densely populated city.

Kuttner’s portfolio includes three genres of paintings: cityscapes, still life/florals, and minimal abstractions. His gritty cityscapes depict urban narratives abstracted through architectural detail.

Peter amplifies these poetics in his color field paintings. Informed by Rothko’s metaphysics, Kuttner’s abstractions achieve depth through their highly textured surfaces and many layers of compelling, rich colors. The complicated hand-finished treatment of the canvas surface resonates with the intricacies of human experience and relationships while the visual depth elaborates the temporal extensions of his work. Kuttner prompts us to pause and consider the spaces that defy architecture, ones of history, emotion and perception.