Gregory Peterson's Contemporary Realist Collection Debuts at New York Academy of Art

The New York Academy of Art presents Persistence of Vision, the first public exhibition of corporate lawyer Gregory Peterson's contemporary realist painting collection. Curated by Peter Drake, the Academy's Dean of Academic Affairs, the show features 85 works assembled over two decades. A rarely displayed piece by photorealist Richard Estes, a friend of Peterson's, appears alongside several portraits of the collector, including one by neo-classicist David Ligare. Peterson, an early contributor to artcritical magazine and trustee of the Aldrich Contemporary Art Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut, sees his collection as aligned with the Academy's mission of training artists in figurative traditions. The exhibition opens with a gala preview reception on Friday, April 22 at 6:00 PM at the Academy's Tribeca headquarters at 111 Franklin Street. Tickets remain available for the benefit event. Persistence of Vision runs through May 8, showcasing Peterson's support for the institution founded in the 1980s to perpetuate high-quality figurative art education.