About the Artist

John Creighton Petersen – Mixed Media Fusion Artist, Teacher, Provocateur

Some artists create. Others build entire worlds. John Creighton Petersen does both—melding history, texture, and meaning into every piece, challenging the ordinary, and transforming the forgotten into something extraordinary. His art is not just seen; it’s worn, lived, and experienced.

A Bold, Mixed Media World

John’s signature style is a self named aesthetic he calls Mixed Media Fusion, a fearless blend of texture, depth, and story. Whether through intricate canvases, sculptural assemblages, or his striking jewelry, his work is an invitation into a world where art defies categories. Names like Cle d'Eiffel and Broken aren’t just titles; they’re portals to narratives, to history reimagined, to something playful yet profound.

Every piece carries layers - encaustic wax softening time, metallic pigments catching the light, ephemera whispering of past lives At its heart, John’s work is about transformation. He doesn’t just create; he reclaims, reinvents, and rebuilds. His art thrives in the tension between past and present, decay and rebirth, chaos and intention.

A Name, A Legacy

The journey to this moment wasn’t linear. inkogNEATo began over twenty-five years ago as a name for his early greeting card line—a playful twist on "incognito," perfectly capturing John’s unique ability to craft art that speaks in layers. From selling handmade goods at the Fremont Sunday Market to running a bustling storefront, inkogNEATo was more than a business—it was identity, freedom, and artistic rebellion.

But as the business grew, something was lost. The grind of wholesale orders and product lines overtook the joy of creating. John stepped away, sold the company, and embarked on a different path with a new name, ArtNewWave. With this new name came new experiences which included teaching and growing more as an independent artist, exploring new mediums and techniques.

It wasn’t until the summer of 2024, after the passing of his mother, that the full circle moment arrived. A forgotten box of his first inkogNEATo cards, carefully saved by her hands, reignited the spark. That name, that dream, was never gone—it was just waiting to be reclaimed.

His return to inkogNEATo is not just a rebrand; it’s a homecoming. A return to unapologetic creativity, to the fire that fueled his beginnings, to an era of art where nothing is wasted, and everything tells a story.

Art as Presence, Not Just Aesthetic

John’s work is not about decoration; it’s about making a statement. His minimal yet impactful approach to storytelling lets the materials and textures speak, each piece daring its audience to touch, reflect, and immerse themselves in its history. He’s not just an artist—he’s a community builder, a curator of memories, and a provocateur of conversation in a world of mass-produced monotony.

A Life in Layers

John is a proud native of the PNW where he shares life with his husband and their two beloved dogs. Their home offers a breathtaking view of Mt. Rainier, a constant reminder of the landscapes that shape his work. The Pacific Northwest with its textures, contrasts, and history, infuses itself into every piece he creates.

His work has been exhibited widely, earning accolades across various mediums, including: