Wisconsin-based artist Pete Kornowski creates narrative-driven acrylic paintings blending folklore, strange encounters, cryptid creatures and believable realism. His work drops viewers directly into the middle of an unfolding moment, leaving intentional gaps for the imagination to piece together what just happened or what’s about to occur. Though Sasquatch and UFOs may be his subjects choice, his work runs deep, stoking questions about life as we know it on this plane of existence. We had the chance to catch up with Pete to talk about his self-taught path, building atmospheric worlds, and the lore that drives his work. Birdy: Pete, what is up, good sir? We love your work, your cryptids, your realism, your beautiful landscapes. We’re curious about where you grew up, if nature was always a part of your life and if art was too. Pete Kornowski: I had a very happy, safe, pretty standard American childhood in Wisconsin. I was born in ‘81, so I grew up before what we’re experiencing now with screens and everything decided for kids. We were outside imagining, making up games and characters, and all of our toys had backstories to them. My brothers and I had a very creative mindset, and my mom and dad did as well. My dad would just make up bedtime stories. That right there is maybe one of the core things that still finds its way into my art — how I have made-up stories that are made into pictures. My mom was very good at drawing and was always into different crafts: basket weaving, watercolor painting, No. 151 jewelry making and sewing. She was always making stuff, and that definitely rubbed off on me because I’m still like that now. Aside from my artmaking, I just like creating stuff, having an idea and bringing it to life. Art classes in school were always my standout subject where I could relax and thrive. I definitely stood out in my ability to draw and handle whatever teachers showed us. I always felt safe and comfortable in those classes. Art was always my identity — I was the art kid, the art guy. Birdy: Art kind of chooses you. Some artists struggle with calling themselves an artist. Having that as part of your identity early on allowed you to nurture it, to own it. Pete Kornowski: My wife and I talk about that a lot. She’s also an artist, and we define it as our superpower. Some kids are really good at sports and popular because of that — art was my superpower, and other kids knew me because I could draw. I’m not immune to self-doubt and I probably wasn’t even the best artist in my school, but it was something that made me feel good and I always got positive feedback for. Most kids are handed crayons and markers and they draw and scribble. I started that same way, but I just never stopped. In middle school I was drawing logos of my favorite teams and making my own football cards. As I got older, no one ever had to tell me to go practice — that’s just what I wanted to do with my time. I was naturally getting better at it incrementally because I was just all in. It’s still that way now. My THEIR PATHS MEET
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