Meet Peter Ferrari | Visual Artist and Curator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Peter Ferrari and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Peter, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
More than anything I think it’s my love of the creative process. I could be designing a mural for a corporate client or improvising an abstract painting for fun, the act of creating and making meaning has always brought me joy. Over the years it’s provided me with an immense amount of feedback and clarity as my artistic vision evolved. You truly have to love it so you’re able to put in the hours, work through the slumps and develop a marketable aesthetic. I’ve also had a consistent presence in Atlanta’s creative community and I’ve always strived to contribute what I can to the cultural identity of this city and its’ artists.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
My work evolves. In that way it’s a reflection of my internal world at the time. When I have a new idea i always try to see it born out, rather than get stuck in a repetitive cycle of making work that fits a brand identity or market trend. I think creatives need to create, and when you start to depend on it for income, it’s easy to slip into replication and making “safe” work. That said, I do repeat certain styles or revisit an aesthetic with fresh eyes when it interests me, which is very helpful in evolving a style. Over the years, I started to “collect” techniques and artistic styles. It allows for more directions creatively and gives clients a lot of options to choose from, appealing to a larger audience with a wider aesthetic range. Not every experiment works, but if you keep experimenting, eventually you’ll feel more creatively fulfuilled, have a wider skill set and plenty of unique work in your portfolio. In some ways it’s been difficult to get to this point and in others its been remarkably easy. As I said earlier, I love to make work, and I would be making work regardless of my profession. It’s a passion, and it’s easy to do what you’re passionate about. I would like people to know that every piece of mine is special to me and each piece represents a significant landmark along my own creative path. When you buy a piece, you’re buying to place in time as unique as any other.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Obviously i would take them to Cabbagetown to see the Forward Warrior murals on Wylie street. I’ve been curating the art there since 2014 and we host well over a hundred artists along that half mile stretch of wall. There are pieces from all of Atlanta’s best artists and you can spend all day walking up and down the wall, taking in the creative energy. We would probably grab a drink at 97 Estoria, one of my favorite haunts for a couple decades now. For food, I love the Pho at Soba in EAV, or the tofu soup at So Kong Dong on Buford Highway. The best tacos are at El Progresso at the end of Boulevard. There’s also lots of great art galleries in ATL these days. Some of my favorites are ABV, Cateye Creative, Kai Lin and Whitespace. They have openings frequently and there’s a fantastic community of artists and appreciators at the events. I love people watching and the Beltline near Krog and Edgewood is always great for that on a weekend. Of course I need my coffee, so maybe a trip to Joe’s or Bellwood Coffee in EAV, Chrome Yellow on Edgewood or Aurora in Little Five. There’s so much to do these days, and I’m constantly learning about new spots in the city to try. Very exciting time to live here. I would definitely have a day out of the city enjoying Georgia’s natural beauty. We love to Kayak on the Broad or Chestattee River, or hike along the Panther Creek trail. There’s also an amazing river/hangout spot called Edge of the World in Dawsonville that’s really fun for a day trip.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to recognize my Dad, who always encouraged me to follow my passion. He passed away earlier this year after an unexpected stroke. He was always so proud to tell people his son was an artist. He trusted my decisions, even when they surprised him. I didn’t choose the path he expected, but he never doubted that I would succeed as long as I was passionate about my work and put in the effort everyday. I wouldn’t be here today without his support and encouragement over the years.

Website: https://www.peterferrari.art

Instagram: @fastredcar

Facebook: Peter Ferrari Art

Other: @fastredcar in TikTok

Image Credits
Dave Roland, Peter Ferrari