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Born in 1958 in Buffalo, New York, USA


1980: BS, Art Education Buffalo State College

1996: Master of Humanities University of Colorado, Denver


Art Instructor, Heritage High School, Littleton, Colorado, 1981 - 2002

Art Instructor, High School, Aurora, Colorado, 2002 - 2006

Adjunt Art Professor Metropolitan State College, Denver, Colorado, 1999

"Peter Illig's works are analogies for human emotions and experiences - American psychological landscapes - reflecting how we think of several things at once. He layers images borrowed from film, TV and cyberspace and his own experience like a coded language of symbols to express his ideas and feelings.

"Once upon a time, the task of the artist was to portray and interpret the 'real world,'" says Illig. "Now it is to discern if there is a reality behind the appearance of things. Reality is created by observation. This search through the 'stuff of the world, matter and flesh, is inherently erotic. And so is the act of drawing and painting. By immersing ourselves in the physical, material world, we can see the path to the higher realm, and find the spiritual meanings behind the physical objects."

These meaning and objects intersect and overlap - in life, and in Illig's art. Where does one object end and another begin? Where does one idea end and another begin to form? Can theory become visual? These and other questions are presented in Illig's work. "

May 2006


  • Solo Exhibitions
  • 2006: Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "Popular Mechanics"

  • 2005:
  • Spark Gallery, Denver, CO, "Dialog: 21"

  • Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "The Logic of Dreams"

  • Plus Gallery, Denver, CO, "First Person Future Tense" (With Jenny Morgan)

  • 2004:
  • Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "Life on Earth"

  • PaintingsDIRECT.com, New York, NY, "Interview with Peter Illig"
  • 2003: Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "Fallen Angels"

  • 2002: Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "Proximity"

  • 2001: Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "The End of History"

  • 2000: Pirate: Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "The Secret Life of Men"

  • 1998:
  • Curtis Center for the Arts, Greenwood, CO, "Variations in Size" (An Invitational Two-Artist Show)
  • Nighthawks Gallery, Denver, CO, "Allegories"
  • 1997:
  • CORE New Art Space, Denver, CO, "Man Woman Image Text"
  • Fine Arts Gallery, University of Colorado, Denver, CO, "Conflicting Views"
  • Group Exhibitions
  • 2006:
  • Denver International Airport, Denver, CO, "Best of Colorado"
  • Denver, CO, "Boom- An Art Show in a Truck"
  • 2005:
  • Emmanuel Gallery, Denver, CO, "Figure Painting Invitational"
  • Phillip J. Steele Gallery, Denver, CO, "CAEA Art Exhibit" - Best of Show Award
  • 2004:
  • Gallery Sovereign, Boulder, CO, "Gallery Sovereign Show"
  • Studio Aiello Gallery, Denver, CO, "Group Show 2 Biennial"
  • 2002:
  • CORE New Art Space, Denver, CO, "The Man Show"
  • Studio Aiello, Denver, CO, "Studio Aiello Inaugural Juried Show"

  • CVA, Denver, CO, "The Figure in American Art, 1950-2000"

  • FT Collins Museum of Contemporary Art, FT Collins, CO, "Rocky Mountain Biennial"

  • Fresh Art Gallery, Denver, CO, "Side by Side"

  • 2001:
  • Viridian Gallery, New York, NY, "Melange"

  • Sandra Phillips Fine Arts, Basalt, CO, "Opening Show"

  • Lakewood Cultural Arts Center, Lakewood, CO, "The Dream Mill"

  • 2000:
  • Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver, CO, "Real to Surreal"

  • Dairy Center for the Arts, Boulder, CO, "American Inverse. Two-artist show"

  • 1999:
  • Women's Art Center and Gallery, Denver, CO, "Woman- Face/Place"

  • ILK Co-op Gallery, Denver, CO, "National Juried Show"

  • PaintingsDIRECT.com, New York, NY, "The Timeless Body"

  • Metropolitan State College Art Faculty Exhibition, Denver, CO, "Center for Visual Arts"

  • 1998:
  • ILK Co-op Gallery, Denver, CO, "National Juried Show"

  • Ron Judish Fine Arts, Denver, CO, "The Box Show, Invitational show"

  • Emmanuel Gallery, Denver, CO, "Alternative Arts Alliance Co=Excellence 98 Traveling Exhibition"

  • 1997:
  • CORE New Art Space, Denver, CO, "CORE Supporting Members' Shows"
  • Foothills Art Center, Golden, CO, "Colorado Open Exhibition"
  • Republic Plaza, Denver, CO, "Persona- Public and Personal"

  • OneWest Art Center, Fort Collins, CO, "Colorado/Wyoming Biennial"

    • Selection of paintings from Peter Illig

    Read the guestbook of Peter Illig

    Sign the guestbook of Peter Illig

  • Third Place, Foothills Art Center, 1997
  • Juror's Choice, CORE Gallery Figurative Show, 1997
  • Award, Curtis Center for the Arts, 1997
  • Juror's Choice, Colorado Gallery of the Arts, 1993

    • Read what the press is saying about Peter Illig

  • Westword: "Sit On It" , 1999 Review by Michael Paglia
  • Westword: "Artistic Democracy", 1998 Review by Michael Paglia
  • "Peter Illig, Artist Juggling Many Canvases" by Sonya Ellingboe. 1997, Littleton Independent