Peter Landa

Peter Landa has spent more than three years in the Far East and has an intimate knowledge of the people and the landscapes. He lived in both Japan and Korea and traveled extensively in China and Southeast Asia where he gained an appreciation for the art, culture, and everyday scenes of the region. While living in Japan he was afforded the opportunity to study under the Master Wood Artist Hiratsuka.   Originally from Chicago, Peter is now a resident of Easton, CT. He earned a BFA from the University of Illinois and worked for many years as a graphic artist and book designer.

Shortly after graduating and moving to Japan, he was afforded the opportunity to study under the Master Woodcut Artist Hiratsuka. This background and training, plus the general influence of other Oriental artists, inspired and influenced both his style and subject matter.
Asked to comment on his art, Mr. Landa replied, “Spending time in the Orient allowed me the opportunity to observe first hand the culture of today but also opened my eyes to the past history of the region. The changes and upheavals of the last two centuries in virtually all of the Asian countries, and the speed in which they transformed themselves from pre-Medieval times to modern day, inspired and fascinated me. Being there and witnessing just a small part of this evolution has been very rewarding and enlightening. “

“Generally my art has an historical timeline focusing on pre-World War II, before the postwar modernization of the ‘60’s. I’ve tried to capture some of the more rural, less urban feeling that was more prevalent then. The cultural and visual strands of the Far East are endless. So, if I can portray a small fiber of the ‘West Meets East’ genre, with an acceptable interpretation, I’ll feel that I’ve accomplished something satisfying.” Mr. Landa works with pen and ink and makes prominent use of the “lucky” color red in depicting the intimate details of every day life of farmers, fishermen, and village marketers.