Contemporary American artist Peter Adams is esteemed for his beautiful Impressionist paintings. He uses oil paints to create vivid landscapes and figurative works that saturate the canvas with color. Adams is known for combining the Western artistic tradition with Eastern influences picked up from his extensive travels.
Adams was born and raised in California. He studied at the ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California; the Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles; the Instituto de Bellas Artes in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico; and the Lukits Academy of Fine Arts in Los Angeles.
Four of Adams’s seven years at the Luktis Academy were spent as an apprentice to Theodore Lukits, a renowned Impressionist painter. He was also introduced to Chinese porcelains and sculptures, which sparked an interest in Asian art that spurred him to travel. In 1981, he traveled and painted unescorted through the People’s Republic of China, becoming the first American artist to do so. He was also the only American artist to travel with the mujahideen rebels of Afghanistan in 1987.
Adams became the president of the California Art Club in 1993, a role he has served in ever since. Established in 1909, the organization only had 80 members at the time. Under his leadership, the membership has grown to around 3,000.
In 2007, he earned the John J. Geraghty Award for advancing traditional fine art as well as the gold medal for the best painting from his fellow members at the California Art Club. In 2009, Fine Art Connoisseur presented Adams with a Lifetime Achievement Award.
Adams is represented by American Legacy Fine Arts in Pasadena. His works are in the collections of the Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard, California; the Haggin Museum in Stockton, California; the USC Pacific Asia Museum in Pasadena, California; and Stephens College in Columbia, Missouri.
On 1stDibs, find a collection of Peter Adams’s paintings.
Going Home; Tehachapi, California
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right UNFRAMED: 20" x 24" FRAMED: 26.75" x 30.75" x 1.75" Artist Statement "The last rays of the su...
Oil, Panel
Commerce along the Pearl River
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Exhibited China's Crown Jewel; Recent Paintings by American Artists, American Legacy Fine Arts, June 21 – July 28, 2019 ...
Oil, Panel
Parting Mist; Kalalau Lookout, Kauai
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Artist Statement "Painting in Hawaii is always a challenge because the weather and atmospheric conditions are constantly changing. This scene of the Kalalau Lookout had it been paint...
Oil, Panel
Sierra Grandeur; 5th Lake View of Mt. Robinson and Palisade Glacier
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by a Private Collector, Encino, California from American Legacy Fine Arts in 2005 American Legacy Fine Arts acquired the work directly from the artist in 2004 Si...
Oil, Panel
Morning Clouds Hovering Below Mount Blanca; Trinchera Ranch, Colorado
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Artist Statement "While staying at the Forbes' Trinchera Ranch in southern Colorado, I was intrigued by seeing this heavy cloud layer every morning hovering below Mt. Blanca's impressive peak of 14,351 feet. The cloud layer created an atmospheric division between the cool shadows below and the bright, warm light above." ―Peter Adams Description The artist's particular bold, broad brushwork magnifies a sense of epic in this pristine scene. The painting exemplifies the American West as an expansive land of free spirit and boundless possibilities. The colors are opulent and there is an intriguing sense of mystery about the subject, a Shangri-la feeling. The presentation of the painting makes a grand entrance statement. Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Gallery Note The artist began the painting in 2006 and completed it in November of 2017. Exhibited Maxwell House...
Oil, Wood Panel
Fallen Trees; Strawberry Peak
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower left UNFRAMED: 20" x 16" FRAMED: 27" x 23" x 2.5" Exhibited "The Diverse Environments of the Arroyo...
Oil
Pools of Hahamongna; Arroyo Seco
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. UNFRAMED: 30" x 40" FRAMED: 39" x 48.5" x 3" Artist Statement “For this large painting I did a number of preparatory ...
Oil, Panel
Leo Carrillo Sunset, End of a Perfect Day
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right UNFRAMED: 12" x 16" FRAMED: 20" x 24" x 1.75" Exhibited Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University in California Art Club's "On Location in Malibu 2024" May 11...
Pastel
Peaceful Passage; Batiquitos Lagoon, Carlsbad, California
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right. Description Peter Adams' flare for combining real places with dreamlike visions is ...
Oil, Panel
Afternoon Foam and Surf; El Matador Beach, Malibu
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right UNFRAMED: 24" x 30" FRAMED: 32.5" x 38.5" x 2" Artist Statement “I am always excited to paint at Malibu when the surf is large and pounding. The sounds of the waves crashing, the exhilarating patterns of foam and spray, the stark contrast of light and shadows excite and enliven my imagination. I am able to totally lose myself in what I am looking at and somehow the painting seems to paint itself.” — Peter Adams Exhibited Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University in California Art Club's "On Location in Malibu 2024" May 11...
Oil, Panel
Afternoon Glow, Cathedral Cove, Anacapa Island
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right Description This plein air oil painting depicts the uniqueness of Anacapa Island in the chain of Southern California’s Channel Islands archipelago. Anacapa was formed by volcanic eruptions. Its desolate landscape is dominated by a distinct geology of steep precipices and jagged rock formations. From this elevated viewpoint, Adams portrays the location known as Cathedral Cove with its outcropping spires and massive kelp beds that hug the shoreline. The peak of the middle island of Anacapa is visible in the distance, and further out to sea is Santa Cruz Island...
Oil, Panel, Linen
$4,900
Christmas Eve at City Hall from the Terri and Jerry Kohl Stairway, Dorothy Chand
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist UNFRAMED: 18" x 16" FRAMED: 24.5" x 22.5" x 1.5" Signed: "Peter Adams" on lower left Exhibited Downtown Impressions: Plein Air Pe...
Oil, Panel
Brilliant Reflections; Rocky Point, Carmel, California
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right Artist Statement "While on a recent painting trip along the 101 Highway to Carmel I stopped twice to paint at one of my favorite spots, Rocky...
Oil, Panel
Quiet Pool; Arroyo Seco
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist UNFRAMED: 12" x 16" FRAMED: 18.5" x 22.5" x 1.5" Exhibited The Diverse Environments of the Arroyo Seco: Paintings from the Californ...
Oil, Panel
After the Autumn Storm; St. Malo Beach, Oceanside
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower left UNFRAMED: 12" x 16" FRAMED: 20" x 24" x 1.75" Artist Statement “It is always exciting seeing t...
Pastel
Philosophers' Wall; Shasta Caves
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Artist Statement "As I am fascinated with lighting, I often carry colored lights with me when I paint in order to illuminate scenes. This work was pain...
Oil, Panel
Alberich's Vision (Rhinemaidens from Richard Wagner's The Ring)
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist FRAMED: 82" x 58" x 2.25" UNFRAMED: 72" x 48" Oil on panel Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right Artist's Statement: Albe...
Oil, Panel
Garden Friends
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist FRAMED: 22.75"x x18.75" x 1.75" UNFRAMED: 16" x 12" Exhibited The Poetry of Still Life, American Legacy Fine Arts, Pasa...
Oil, Panel
Two Lohans and Kwan Yin
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower left FRAMED: 31.75" x 27.75" x 1.625" UNFRAMED: 24" x 20" Artist Statement “Among my mo...
Oil, Panel
Pastoral Morning; Redding
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired directly from the Artist by the gallery Signed "Peter Adams" on the bottom right Description While a guest on a private ranch in Redding, California artist Pete...
Pastel
Golden Surf; Leo Carrillo Beach
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right UNFRAMED: 12" x 16" FRAMED: 20" x 24" x 1.75" Exhibited Frederick R. Weisman Museum of Art at Pepperdine University in California Art Club's "On Location in Malibu 2024" May 11...
Pastel
Blind Love; Huntington Gardens
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower left UNFRAMED: 16" x 12" FRAMED: 22.5" x 18.5" x 1.5" Exhibited Spring into Art 2022, presented by ...
Oil, Panel
Buddha Revealed; Huntington Gardens
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Acquire by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right UNFRAMED:16" x 12" FRAMED:22.5" x 17.75" x 1" Exhibited California Art Club Gallery at The Old...
Oil, Panel
Beauty in Nocturne: Ruckstull's Sculpture of Evening
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right FRAMED: 38" x 32" x 2.5" UNFRAMED: 30" x 24" Artist Statement “All the objects in t...
Oil, Panel
Faithful; St. Malo Beach, Oceanside
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist Artist Statement “I am particularly interested in unique lighting effects and how these effects reflect, refract, diffuse...
Pastel
Golden Cove Breakers; Rancho Palos Verdes
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. Signed "Peter Adams" on lower right. Artist Statement “At the time of big surf in the late afternoon, it is wonderful t...
Oil Pastel
"Mt. Evans and Bierstadt, Colorado" Oil Painting
By David Shingler
Located in Denver, CO
David Shingler's (NC based) "Mt. Evans and Bierstadt, Colorado" is an oil painting that depicts a green grassy plain dotted with Pine trees leading to the snow capped mountains in th...
Oil, Wood Panel
$7,425
H 48 in W 38 in
HUGE OIL PAINTING MARITIME SHIP MASTER PIECE 20th CENTURY NICE GOLD GILT FRAME
Located in Ferndown, GB
HUGE OIL PAINTING MARITIME SHIP MASTER PIECE 20th CENTURY FINE MARTINE PAINTING 20th Century OIL PAINTING GOLD GILT FRAME Good condition for age , (see pictures) Description ( ...
Oil
Metsälampi (Forest Pond), 1942
Located in Stockholm, SE
Metsälampi (Forest Pond) is a 1942 oil painting on panel by the Finnish artist Ragnar Ungern, depicting a forest pond with overhanging trees reflected in its still waters. Created in...
Oil, Wood Panel
$4,417
H 6.29 in W 9.44 in
19th Century French Landscape with Boat on Lake, Oil on Canvas
By Paul Desire Trouillebert
Located in PARIS, FR
Conditions : Excellent overall Conditions, minor chips on the left side to original period frame. Oil on canvas signed Trouillebert on the lower right. Certificate by Michel Rodrigue...
Oil
$251Sale Price|20% Off
H 13 in W 16.15 in D 1.97 in
French school Landscape countryside forest oil painting Signed
Located in Zofingen, AG
➡️ Landscape countryside forest⬅️ ⏩It is signed H Aucier⏪ ⭐Medium:⭐ Oil on wood panel / isorel ⭐Technique: ⭐Impasto painting with expressive brushwork. ⭐Size:⭐33x41cm /13x16.1 i...
Gesso, Oil, Stretcher Bars, Wood Panel
$6,500
H 25 in W 31 in D 2 in
Horse at the Golden Hills, California , Impressionist California landscaper.
By Lynn Gertenbach
Located in La Canada Flintridge, CA
Lynn Gertenbach's "Ride at Golden Hills" is a remarkable oil painting that captures a serene moment of a lady riding a horse under a tree, surrounded by lush grass and vibrant scener...
Oil
"Cloud Composition 2" Original Realist Skyscape with Clouds
By Jesse Mangerson
Located in Denver, CO
"Cloud Composition 2" is a realistic capturing of a golden skyscape, created with oil paint on panel. This piece is framed at 9.5 x 9.5 inches and is ready to hang. Jesse Mangerson ...
Oil, Panel
$600
H 6 in W 8 in D 0.25 in
"Twilight Over a Mountain Lake" (2025) Landscape Impressionist Oil Painting
By Devin Michael Roberts
Located in Denver, CO
Devin Michael Roberts' (US based) "Twilight Over a Mountain Lake" is a beautiful original oil painting on panel, depicting a deep and saturated red sunset, close to dusk. Artist bio...
Oil, Panel
"Cloud Composition 3" Original Realist Skyscape with Clouds
By Jesse Mangerson
Located in Denver, CO
"Cloud Composition 3" is a realistic capturing of a golden skyscape, created with oil paint on panel. This piece is framed at 9.5 x 9.5 inches and is ready to hang. Jesse Mangerson ...
Oil, Panel
Rocky Inlet, Monhegan, Maine
By George Adomeit
Located in Fairlawn, OH
Rocky Inlet, Monhegan, Maine Oil on canvas mounted on phenolic resin, c. 1940 Unsigned Signed with the estate stamp on the reverse (see photo) Condition: Excellent, recently cleaned ...
Oil
$900
H 8 in W 8 in
"Pond Side (Wisconsin)" - Impressionist Landscape and Still Life, Oil Painting
By Hazel Z Weckbach
Located in Denver, CO
This piece rests at 8 x 8 inches and is framed at 13.62 x 13.62 inches, wired and ready for hanging. Artist Statement: "Subject matter to me is a vehicle for me to explore how I obs...
Oil, Panel
$1,850
H 23 in W 21 in D 2 in
American Impressionist Landscape, attributed to Charles Harold Davis ca 1920’s
By Charles Harold Davis
Located in Baltimore, MD
This is a lovely oil on canvas painting that was attributed to Charles Harold Davis when I purchased it about ten years ago. It is unfortunately not signed. The scene is a view throu...
Oil
Sold
H 50.375 in W 40.375 in D 1.625 in
Ethereal Lights, Electric Fountain; Beverly Hills
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist. FRAMED: 50.375" x 40.375" x 1.625" UNFRAMED: 40" x 30" Artist Statement "As a young boy, my father o...
Oil
Taming Dragon Lohan
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by the gallery directly from the artist FRAMED: 17.5" x 14.5" x 1.375" UNFRAMED: 12" x 9" Description This still life is lively with its intermingled blue and vio...
Oil, Panel
Sold
H 30.5 in W 24.5 in D 1.25 in
St. Theresa in the Serra Chapel, Mission San Juan Capistrano
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Description Using colored lights Peter Adams illuminated then painted this wooden statue of Saint Teresa of Avila, one of the Doctors of the Chur...
Oil, Panel
Cleopatra
By Peter Adams
Located in Pasadena, CA
Provenance Acquired by American Legacy Fine Arts directly from the artist Description Peter Adams takes a contemporary approach to a classical subject with Cleopatra. In this compos...
Oil, Panel