PETER WHITLEY

STORY

Peter is disruptive by design. Born in New York and raised in Las Vegas and the Pacific Northwest, he always gravitated to the creative counter culture. Drawing, painting and skateboarding. There was a direct correlation between the outlaw persona of a young 1970s/80s skater and the quiet kid who sat in his room drawing for hours.

Life was Peter's canvas. Whether it was seeking out urban skate spots (parks were far and few between) or painting in a dank alley. And he was never interested in the commercial aspect of either. In fact, he loved art and skating because they were cheap and easy ways to spend his time. He also found them cathartic. He studied art in college and eventually became senior art director for a division of Hasbro. But he would soon realize that his commute was more fulfilling than the job itself. Why? Because he skated to and from work wearing a big, obnoxious afro wig. Just because it was silly. And fun.

Searching for meaning, he became an accomplished skate park advocate in his off hours, producing and renovating skate parks in his hometown. Soon, he was consulting with communities across the U.S. This led Peter to follow his passion, so he bailed on his day job to pursue skate park development.

Today, as Programs Director for the Tony Hawk Foundation in Vista, CA, he works with advocacy groups around the world, supporting their efforts to provide communities with skate parks. He still paints every day. In fact, his two loves have collided in the last couple of years in creating portraits for the inductees of the Skateboarding Hall of Fame. To Peter, authenticity is when a person finds their way and identifies what moves them. To that end, he’s the walking definition of the word.