Pete Petrine

At the age of 27, Pete Petrine saw a nine-foot self-portrait by Chuck Close which changed his life.  In his senior semester, as a conflict resolution major at George Mason University, Pete took a drawing class elective and immediately changed his major to fine art.  A dyslexic, intuitive artist fascinated by the human figure, especially portraiture, Petrine has been making art ever since.

Pete Petrine graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA from George Mason University in 2003.   Pete then received an MFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City in 2006. Returning to Virginia, Pete was recruited as an Adjunct professor in drawing by George Mason in 2008.  Pete’s teaching philosophy centers on integrating his passion for Art with the individual needs of his students.  He seeks to learn what each student’s goals are from his courses and, for upper level students, what their career goals are.  He introduces students to particular artists whose work may inspire advanced creativity.  As well, Pete encourages classmates to learn from one another as he learns from them.  While sharing how the ‘masters’ developed mark-making styles, Pete is devoted to keeping current on contemporary artists by frequent trips to NYC galleries as well as daily perusal of internet postings.   For Pete, art education is an interactive, daily adventure.

Professionally, Pete Petrine has exhibited in NYC, Washington and throughout the Virginia/Maryland area.  Exhibition highlights include: The David Zwirner Gallery (NYC), the Ratner Museum (MD), and Greater Reston Arts Center (VA).