Robert Peterson: We Are Forever

NEW YORK, NY | albertz benda is pleased to announce We Are Forever, Robert Peterson’s debut solo exhibition with the gallery. We Are Forever follows significant milestones in the artist’s career, including an acquisition by the Art Bridges Foundation and two notable institutional exhibitions:  Robert Peterson: Homecoming at the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa, OK, and Robert Peterson: Somewhere in America at the Wichita Art Museum in Wichita, KS, which will travel later this year to the Greene Family Art Foundation in Dallas, TX.

In We Are Forever, Peterson challenges dominant narratives surrounding Black lives while celebrating the beauty, resilience, and humanity of his subjects. Central to the exhibition is Peterson’s exploration of the profound role of family, celebrating the deep bonds that define these relationships.

 Peterson captures moments of tenderness and strength: a father embracing his children, a mother and daughter sharing a quiet moment, and siblings standing side by side. Rendered in Peterson’s signature blues, these intimate family portraits counter stereotypes and offer a powerful homage to the strength of family.

We Are Forever also introduces a bold new series of diptychs, marking a new approach in Peterson’s practice as he incorporates abstraction into his work for the first time. Each diptych pairs a striking portrait with a passage of dynamic, abstract color. This interplay between figuration and gesture creates a powerful dialogue, emphasizing the emotional depth of Peterson’s subjects and the complex inner worlds they inhabit.

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. With extraordinary sensitivity and skill as a portraitist, Peterson delicately captures the essence of each individual, bringing their stories to life with a sense of dignity and presence that ensures they will not be forgotten.