Artist Tour and Talk with Ron Tarver and Robert Peterson

Join featured artists Robert Peterson and Ron Tarver for a special talk and gallery tour exploring the history and cultural impact of Black cowboys across the United States in their respective exhibitions. Hear personal perspectives from these Oklahoma-born artists on identity, storytelling, and their creative practices through painting and photography. Come back on Sunday, July 19, and continue the conversation with a portraiture workshop featuring the artists!
About Ron Tarver
Ron Tarver is an artist and educator from Oklahoma. A Pulitzer Prize–winning former photojournalist for The Philadelphia Inquirer, he is now Associate Professor of Art at Swarthmore College. His work, including The Long Ride Home: Black Cowboys in America, has been widely exhibited and is held in major museum collections. Learn more about his exhibition here.
About Robert Peterson
Robert Peterson is a contemporary painter based in Lawton, Oklahoma, known for expressive portraits centered on African American life. His work emphasizes dignity and individuality through a distinctive use of color and tone. Peterson’s paintings are held in major museum collections, and his portrait of Ernest J. Gaines was featured in the U.S. Postal Service Black Heritage stamp series. Learn more about his exhibition here.
Support provided by Art Bridges.