"Surfaces in my paintings have been marked, scratched, cracked and seared. Like the terrain itself, the surface layers of these works are dynamic, and balance between the various states of season. This random etching of the surface call to task the sense of material “value”. The markings on the paintings, inconsistencies in the resin and the unrefined finishing of the canvas structure, allude to the elements found outside the Artist’s control. The result invokes a sense of abandon and a hint of a work in transition. Challenging this is the thick high gloss encapsulating surface, slick and precious in its packaging."
Peter Hoffer paints trees in an imaginary landscape. Working in acrylic on wooden panel, he builds his surfaces through accumulation and subtraction: painting, scratching, sanding, repainting, often leaving parts of the panel bare. The tree is often the only fully resolved element, sitting in a painterly, abstract landscape. He finishes each work with a coat of epoxy resin, sealing the surface while creating reflections and depth, turning the painting into an object as much as an image. Hoffer bows to the tradition of historical landscape painting, but the results are very much of today.
Hoffer holds an MFA from Concordia University in Montreal and has exhibited in New York, Paris, Berlin, London, and across Canada. His work is held in public and corporate collections including the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Montréal and the Musée national des beaux-arts du Québec. Peter Hoffer is represented by Kathryn Markel Fine Arts with two locations in New York City. He lives and works in Montreal, Canada.