Peter Mars

Infobox Artist
name = Peter Mars


imagesize = 300
caption = Peter Mars in his studio, 2008
birthname = Peter Mars
birthdate = 1959
location = Portland, Oregon, U.S.
nationality = American (United States)
field = Printmaker, Artist, Painting
movement = Pop Art

Peter Mars (Born 1959 in Portland, Oregon) is an American artist with ties to both the Pop Art and Outsider Art movements.

History & Education

Mars was educated at Reed College, a small private school in Portland, Oregon. During this time, he explored his love of nature and science, receiving a degree in Chemistry.

In 1982, Peter moved to New Orleans, Louisiana. He lived and worked in the French Quarter during the mid-1980s. It was there that he learned printmaking while working in the silkscreen studio of the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center.

Artistic Endeavors

Mars’ paintings incorporate the use of silkscreen or serigraphy (from the French words for "“silk writing”") on various mediums including wood, canvas, and paper. The art of silkscreen has been popularized by many contemporary artists such as Alexander Calder, Roy Lichtenstein, and Andy Warhol.

In the tradition of Pop Art, mechanical repetition plays an important part in Mars’ work. He is known for completing his paintings in series, where the same image appears, each time within a slightly different context.

Peter’s art is inspired by popular culture including everyday objects like old signs, billboards, match packs, TV shows, candy wrappers, and wallpaper.

His work is influenced by the artworks of both dada and pop artists such as Stuart Davis, Francis Picabia, Robert Rauschenberg, and James Rosenquist.

Current Activities

In 1988, Peter moved to Chicago, Illinois. His studio is a loft, located in the historic warehouse district. This area was originally made famous by the Haymarket Riots of 1886.

Mars has spent the past 20 years making his art and also collaborating with Outsider artists including Howard Finster, Wesley Willis, R.A. Miller, and Pop artists such as Jeff Schaller, Burton Morris, and Tom Judd.

Recent projects include Cool Globes (2007), CD art for indie rock band, the Redwalls, new release (2007), Suite Home Chicago (2001), and Cows on Parade (1999).

Reviews

“Brilliant, quirky.” –NYUnews.com

"Witty and excitingly of the moment." -New Orleans Times Picayune

"Leader of Chicago's Avant Pop movement" -Chicago Sun Times

"A mixture of spiritual consumerism, banality, and resonant mystery." - New Orleans Art Review

Image Gallery

References

Citation
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first = Roger
author-link =
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title = Appropriate art for an 'alternative' space
newspaper = The Chicago Sun-Times
pages = K-2 - K-3
year = 1987
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Citation
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title = Proscenium: Artscan
newspaper = New Orleans Gambit
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year = 1987
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Citation
last = Pyne
first = Lynn
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title = Visual art: Art by Peter Mars
newspaper = The Phoenix Gazette
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year = 1988
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newspaper = New Orleans Gambit
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Citation
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cite journal
last = Lautman
first = Victoria
authorlink = http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victoria_Lautman
coauthors =
title = Chicago's Newest Gallery District
journal = Avenue M
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location = Chicago, IL
date = May 1989
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cite journal
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title = Where the Hip Hang
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cite journal
last = Loudon
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title = Pop Goes the Easel
journal = Inside Chicago
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location = Chicago, IL
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cite journal
last = Rubin
first = Jeff
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coauthors =
title = Traditions
journal = The New Orleans Art Review
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issue =
pages = 41, 42
publisher =
location = New Orleans, Louisiana
date = March/April 1997
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cite journal
last = Fields
first = Catt
authorlink =
coauthors =
title = Mars Closer Than You Think
journal = PHX Downtown
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pages =
publisher =
location = Phoenix, Arizona
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