While I’m in NYC for Taos 1960’s – Present, another Taos painter with equal weight, is getting ready for his opening at Magpie on May 3rd.
In my opinion Peter Parks (whom I profiled here early on) is one of the most important artists living and working here in Taos.
Peter moved to Taos in 1971, but was born on Long Island in NY, and had lived in many places, both here and abroad before arriving in Taos.
Largely self-taught, although he studied briefly at both the San Francisco Art Institute and the Art Students League in New York, Peter’s work defies easy description.
I’ve always seen his paintings through a lens of complex colour relationships; to my eye, Parks is a superb colourist. His compositions are compelling and strong, but it’s the colour and way he uses it that gets me every time.
Like his friend Tom Dixon (another great painter who chooses to live and work here), Parks is incredibly prolific. He works constantly. At this point, the body of work must be astounding.
I can’t wait to see what he hangs at Magpie.
So while I head East to celebrate Taos in the City, I’ll look forward to returning to this masterful show by yet another member of our extraordinary Art Colony which appears to be in the midst of an exciting creative Renaissance!
Georgia Gersh should be commended for showing consistently great work by local artists, and upholding the long tradition of Taos as an Artist’s community, Community in the true sense of the word.
Parks has shown his work in Boston, New York, Southern California and Seattle. He has donated pieces to the Taos Living Center, Taos Public Library and is included in the permanent collection of the Harwood Museum.
Peter has been married to his wife Tanya for 25 years. She is a talented writer and poet. They have a now grown, son, Hollis, and continue to live and create in Carson, NM.
For more about the show (which opens at Magpie on May 3rd and hangs through the 30th, with an opening reception for the artist on Saturday, May 5th, 5-7), please visit the site linked below.
