Peter Burega’s abstract oil paintings hint at scenes from the natural world, as expressed through sophisticated nuances of light, shadow, and color.

After 25 years of painting oil on panel, Burega delves into a new direction, adapting his gestural technique onto canvas for the first time in this LewAllen exhibition entitled West of the Moon. 

Burega creates his work through layers of brushed and scraped paint, utilizing sgraffito and other subtractive processes to induce dynamic rhythms of space and depth. He says of his new canvas works, “I’ve had the exciting opportunity to revisit my process after 25 years of building a very specific kind of painting on board. The way I work, the way I scrape, and my gestural mark making—I have [recreated my process] on canvas. It’s been a really important period of growth for me.”

In addition to experimenting with canvas, the color and texture of the paintings in West of the Moon are deeply inspired by the landscape of Sint Maarten Island, French West Indies, where Burega resides part of the year. He looks at the subtle permutations of light and color in the shadow between a palm tree and the water’s edge. He conveys his explorations of the lagoons, saltpans, and beaches, as well as the various shades of color in the changing depth of the ocean. The daily backdrop of electric color in the lush flora and houses make their way into these works as well.

Burega transforms a sense of place into that of an infinite beyond. His paintings are filled with ethereal light and color, and they conjure a mysterious, yet meditative atmosphere. Burega hopes to impart in his artwork “some of the harmony and sheer joy” that he experiences while painting.

Peter Burega was born in 1965 in Montreal, Canada. He lives and works part of the year on the island of Sint Maarten and part of the year in Savannah, Georgia. He trained as a concert pianist at the Royal Conservatory of Toronto, received a B.A. in Art History and Sociology from McGill University in Montreal, and earned a J.D. from Whittier College in Los Angeles. His paintings are included in numerous collections across the United States.