With a touch of realism, Amy Peterson's pop art is a vibrant, energetic and fun reflection of her personality and the Airstream travel trailers she paints. Peterson is a master at taking the iconic trailer image and transforming it into an elemental part of its surroundings, where the metallic surface of the trailer becomes a catalyst for blending environment and design.

The Holladay Arts Council selected Peterson as the Artist of the Month for November 2024. The recognition acknowledges Peterson’s unique talent and skill as an oil painter. Her artistic work involves mapping several color variations on canvas to produce captivating distortions in the reflective nature of aluminum. The viewer is invited into a surreal space where elongated reflections draw the eye's attention against a bold, simple background.

A California native, Peterson originally came to Utah on an art scholarship from Brigham Young University. Completing a degree in printmaking, she did block printing for many years and then moved to stone lithography. It wasn’t until 2013 when she painted an Airstream travel trailer for her husband as a Valentine’s Day gift she discovered her passion for oil painting.

“My husband and I had been thinking about getting an Airstream travel trailer,” Peterson said.  “We couldn’t justify buying one because we don’t camp that much so I painted one for him for Valentine’s Day. I said, ‘Hey look I got you an Airstream!’ He said, ‘What!?’ and I gave him the painting. I got so many commissions to paint more Airstreams, and I loved painting them so much. There is a following wrapped around Airstreams and a lot of nostalgia for me. It’s the changing of the reflection of all of the encapsulated detail. It has been so fun.”

Pop painters Ben Steele and Brad Overton are two artists Peterson draws inspiration for her art.

“Ben Steele is one of the best pop painters in Utah right now,” Peterson said. “His work is phenomenal and completely inspiring. Brad Overton is another artist that thinks outside the box. He incorporates a lot of vibrant colors in his large paintings of fun small toys with a cast shadow. The background in his paintings is a lot simplervery similar to my Airstream paintings. There is so much detail in my Airstreams. I tend to focus on a simpler background so the subject will draw your eye into it and you can sort of explore around. I think art should be really fun. There are tons of still life out there like bowls of fruit and flowers and there is a place for it for sure, but for me I just like to make art that I want to see exciting, fun, vibrant, unique and energetic. My favorite thing is to see a painting and go ‘Wow!’ I do that a lot with Ben Steele’s and Brad Overton’s art - where I’m just surprised or excited.”

In addition to Airstream travel trailers, Peterson paints portraits and has received several commissions to paint Mount Olympus. The majestic splendor of the mountain is one of the reasons she enjoys living in Holladay.

“I stop and look at Mount Olympus at sunset all the time,” Peterson said. “I’ve painted it so many times. It’s interesting how it appears to change when the gorgeous golden light just before sunset hits the tree canopy and then shoots up. It’s phenomenal. My art studio used to be in the Rockwood building in Sugar House, and then when we moved to Holladay, I built a little studio in my backyard where I can now look right up at Mount Olympus. I love living in Holladay due to the beautiful tree canopy and also the community. Our neighborhood is wonderful. There is such a great sense of community in Holladay.”

Peterson has participated in several art shows in Utah. In 2022, her Airstream painting won first place in the Holladay Fine Art Show. This year, her art was accepted into the juried Spring Salon at the Springville Art Museum. The museum received a record-breaking 1,450 entries, which were juried down to the 276 displayed.

“We’re big time golfers and Cottonwood Country Club members,” Peterson said. “I wanted to have a show at the club and was invited to display my art. The show was super successful. I run an art program at the club now. It’s great because I meet many artists and learn about many opportunities for shows, which helps me become more involved in art events.”

When asked what success as an artist is to her, Peterson said, “I do what I love. It’s astounding that people will buy whatever comes out of my head. My husband says my paintings have a fun spirit and a playful aspect to them. It’s kind of who I am.”

Peterson’s art will be on display through November at Holladay City Hall, 4580 S. 2300 East.

To nominate a Holladay resident for Artist of the Month, visit www.holladayarts.org/suggest-an-artist