DAVID ALLAN PETERS

OPENING SEPTEMBER 13, 2025

Royale Projects is pleased to announce a solo exhibition of paintings by David Allan Peters opening September 13, 2025 5-7pm.

Grounded in a process that Peters has expanded on for nearly three decades, this new body of work deepens his exploration of the cyclical nature of creation and destruction through more complex compositions and geometric arrangements, extending from his earlier grid-based systems.

The artist develops each painting by applying expressionistic layers of acrylic paint onto plywood panels, building up a dense, vivid surface. Once hardened, he meticulously carves thousands of small gouges creating intricate visual textures that gradually unfold as the viewer moves through the space. “It’s like fireworks in motion, sparkling and spinning gracefully, its energetic plumed networks expending otherworldly color-coded energy,” writes Stephen Wozniak, describing the experience of viewing Peter's work.

Inspired by the intensity of California’s light, sunsets, and flora, the artist employs a diverse and intuitive palette. Deep sapphires, emerald greens and rich maroons commingle with ethereal sky blues and soft lilacs while electric oranges peek through fields of golden poppy. His nuanced approach to color, merging subtle tones with saturated tints, creates a lively exchange between calm and exuberant. 

While the tonal choice and application feel spontaneous and free, the carved patterns provide structure and stability. Recently, his carvings have become increasingly elaborate, incorporating curvilinear forms and circular motifs reminiscent of the meditative raking of Japanese Zen Gardens. These sweeping grooves comb through striped bands of paint juxtaposing organic movement with a linear framework. 

Peters embraces the freedom to make a mess, then carefully refines it into something precise. His work finds balance between chaos and control bringing opposing forces into harmony. 

David Allan Peters received his Master of Fine Arts degree from Claremont Graduate University in Claremont, where he was mentored by and a studio assistant to pioneering abstract painter Karl Benjamin, following his undergrad at the Art Institute in San Francisco.His work has been exhibited at venues including Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, Lancaster Museum of Art and History, CA, Miles McEnery in New York and Commune di Brescia in Italy with recent exhibitions at Laguna Art Museum, CA, Wignall Museum of Contemporary Art at Chaffey University in Rancho Cucamonga, CA and Harris Gallery at University of La Verne, CA.