Peter Sandback

Peter Sandback (b. NY, 1966) is a photographer and furniture maker based in southern New Hampshire. He earned a BFA from the University of Michigan in 1988 and an MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 1992. For more than 25 years, he has worked as a professional furniture maker, recognized for thoughtful craftsmanship and design.

His photographic practice focuses on natural history museums, where science, art, and illusion converge. Interested in their hushed atmosphere and dramatic lighting, he photographs dioramas and displays in which taxidermy and painted backdrops merge seamlessly. His work explores the tension between beauty and unease within these carefully constructed environments.

Sandback lives and works in rural New Hampshire with his family.

Peter’s artwork was featured in ‘The New Naturalists‘ on view June 13-28, 2026.

“This body of work consists of photographic double exposures reflecting my ongoing interest in natural history museums. For many years, I have photographed these spaces and their specimens, drawn to their unique blend of science, art, and display. More recently, I have become interested in the painted backdrops behind the exhibits—often overlooked, yet remarkable works of art in their own right.

In this series, I combine these elements by layering a photographed specimen over an image of an unrelated background painting. The resulting pairings disrupt the original context, creating an ambiguous space between representation and artifice.

The works are produced as pigment prints on translucent film, with silver leaf applied to the reverse. Light passes through and reflects off the surface, further complicating the sense of depth, illusion, and material presence.”