Born, raised and residing in California, Peter Tonningsen earned both his BFA (San Francisco Art Institute) and MFA (San Jose State University) in photography. With an emphasis on fine art photography and public art, Peter’s work generally explores the relationships between history, community, and place. Peter is a recipient of the James D. Phelan Art Award in Photography, the Sustainable Arts Promise Award, and is included in the permanent collections of the Oakland Museum of California, City of Walnut Creek, Alameda County Art Commission, San Francisco Art Commission, San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, City of Berkeley, the Hahnemühle Anniversary Collection, and Kala Art Institute. Peter’s work has been widely published and he has an extensive exhibition history of group and solo shows. Peter also collaborates with Lisa Levine through their company Counterpoint Studio, LLC from which they have completed several public art commissions and are included in multiple collections. Peter has been teaching photography at the Academy of Art University since 2001 and he has also taught at the San Francisco Art Institute, San Jose State University and in Castlemont High School’s art enrichment program. Peter is the proud father of two boys.
