Robert Peterson Summons Black Resilience and Tenderness in Vibrant Portraits

In characteristically glistening blue hues, Robert Peterson’s striking portraits invite us into emotionally complex inner worlds.

Peterson centers the Black body in paintings that challenge dominant narratives surrounding Black lives, celebrating beauty, compassion, and resilience. Tender portraits reveal the essential humanity of vulnerability and individuality with an emphasis on themes of empathy and togetherness.

an oil painting portrait of a bearded Black man's face and shoulders, shown against a light teal background, with tears streaming down his face — “Protect Those Tears” (2025), oil on canvas, 14 x 11 inches

Peterson’s choice of oils, a traditional portrait medium, embeds his work in the continuum of Western painting. However, instead of highly stylized scenes or elaborate ornamentation, his figures are often set against bold, flat backgrounds and they appear half-dressed or in casual clothes, unguarded and relaxed.

In his forthcoming solo exhibition, We Are Forever at albertz benda, Peterson examines familial connections, paying homage to the strength and dedication inherent in the relationships between siblings and parents and their children.

“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,” the gallery says.

We Are Forever runs from March 27 to May 3 in New York. Find more on the artist’s website and Instagram.

a framed portrait of a bearded Black man wearing an untied purple cloth or durag on his head, partly concealing his face, against a purple background — “Untitled (Purple)” (2025), oil on canvas, 18 x 14 inches

a portrait of a Black man wearing jeans and no shirt, standing in front of a tan-colored horse and gazing directly at the viewer

an oval framed portrait of a Black man with an untied red durag on his head, holding a bouquet of flowers — “Water Me” (2025), oil on canvas, 24 x 20 inches

a portrait of a Black woman's torso, standing sideways and facing the viewer with her hands up in front of her face, showing a tattoo on her arm — “Hamsa Tattoo” (2025, oil on canvas, 28 x 22 inches

a wide horizontal portrait of a Black man wearing a red durag, no shirt, and jeans, lies on the ground and looks over at the viewer

a framed portrait of a Black man in a gray sweatshirt, wearing an untied black durag on his head, set against a light blue background — “Untitled (Black)” (2025), oil on canvas, 18 x 14 inches

two nearly life-size oil portraits of Black men gazing directly at the viewer, on view in an art fair booth — Installation view of works at the Dallas Art Fair

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