Peter Olson

EDUCATION

—BFA University of the Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

 BIOGRAPHY

Peter Olson is a professional photographer known for the use of his sepia printed photographic transfers in fractal-like patterning on his wheel thrown ceramic vessel forms.  Olson’s work is frequently created in a series of varying sized covered jar forms with covers forming elaborate finials. 

Common themes on Olson's work are scenes of real people in cities such as New York, Los Angeles and Philadelphia. At times Olsen uses these images for social comment.  He also uses images referencing Renaissance and classical themes.

Olson intuitively designs his patterns by working from the center and outward in open vessel forms and around his more common covered jar forms. A finished ceramic work can contain anywhere from 40-900+ individual photographic images which can vary greatly in size from under an inch to several inches high. Each image may be repeated 100s of times on one object. This creates a rich  narrative surface. The actual image ‘transfers’ are placed on the ceramic surface and burn off during firing. This leaves only the sepia iron oxide images on the finished work.