Peter F. Volay

Peter F. VolayPeter F. VolayPeter F. Volay

Peter F. Volay

Peter F. VolayPeter F. VolayPeter F. Volay

Award-Winning Fine Artist

1915-2007

Meet the Artist, Peter Volay

Artist Biography

Peter Francis Volay was born on 8 Feb 1915 in Chicago, IL to Peter Steve Volay (Pierre Etienne Volay) and Frances Trecek, both immigrants to the United States. His father was from Bessenay (near Lyon), France and his mother was from Moravia, Bohemia (modern-day eastern part of the Czech Republic). He had two older sisters, Rose and Lillian. 


Throughout his life, Peter was artistically inclined. He was educated at the Art Institute of Chicago, The Institute of Design (formerly the "Bauhaus"), and studied with the French Poster artist Villemot. Peter translated his love of the arts into service for his country during WWII as a cartographer in the US Army 30th Engineers Division both in Hawaii and North Africa.


He has worked professionally as a graphic designer and Art Director for the Chicago Sun-Times. He was a member of the Chicago Society of Artists, The Chicago Artists' Coalition. and the Northern Indiana Arts Association of Munster, Indiana.


Peter was married to Helen Hurley. No children were born from this union. His wife Helen died in 1994. Peter never remarried, but continued painting and displaying his works of art in various art shows in Chicagoland and across the country until his death on 10 Oct 2007 in Chicago, IL at the age of 92.


His work is in many private collections and was in President Clinton's collection at the White House (now displayed in the Clinton Presidential Library). Volay rarely sold his works to the general public, and when he did they were quite costly. He participated in exhibitions and received many awards at numerous galleries and competitions.

Artist Profile - Courtesy of the Chicago Artists' Coalition

1930s - 1940s

1930s - 1940s

1930s - 1940s

Peter Volay's earliest works were done in watercolor and the subject matter was usually a landscape or building. These paintings were usually on the smaller side, about 12" x 18".

1950s - 1960s

1930s - 1940s

1930s - 1940s

Peter worked in various mediums, but usually oil or acrylic on canvas. He preferred a much larger format.

1970s - 1980s

1970s - 1980s

1970s - 1980s

Peter painted in oil and acrylic on canvas, experimenting with relief painting techniques. He painted many Victorian-style homes during this period, using the relief paint almost as a cake decorator would, to ornately embellish the Victorian details on the porch and front of the homes.

1990s - 2000s

1970s - 1980s

1970s - 1980s

Near the end of his life, Peter began experimenting with surrealism and distortion in his paintings. He took everyday objects, such as homes or landmarks, and distorted them using a "wave effect." He also painted several satirical paintings, including a play on "Washington Crossing the Delaware" using President Bill Clinton at the helm of the ship, called "Clinton Crossing the Delaware," which hangs in the Clinton Presidential Museum, and a play on "American Gothic" with the couple obviously disoriented in an airport about to embark upon a flight. This award-winning painting was displayed in the new Skybridge between Midway Airport and the Midway CTA Orange Line station in Chicago, IL.

Confirmed Exhibitions, Awards, & Catalog Appearances

Peter Volay has participated in exhibitions and received awards at numerous galleries, including the Art Institute's Rental and Sales Gallery, North Shore Art League, New Horizons Show, the Scottsdale Art League, a one-man show at the Triangle Gallery of Old Town, Moraine Valley College, DeCaprio Gallery and Chicago Society of Artists' Annual Calendar Competition. The Chicago Public Library holds an artist file entry containing a bibliography of exhibition catalogs and artist-reference books associated with Peter Volay. 

1940s

  • 1945 - University of Hawaii, 30th Engineers Globetrotters Third Annual Art Exhibition

1950s

  • 1957, February 12-26 - Chicago Artists No-Jury Exhibition
  • 1958 - Chicago Artists No-Jury Exhibition

1970s

  • 1977, July - One-Man Show of Paintings by Peter Volay, Scottsdale Library, Chicago, IL

1980s

  • 1981, April - Arthur Baer Memorial Exhibition, Honorable Mention cash award, juried by the late noted painter Seymour Rosofsky
  • 1984, September - Hyde Park Center for Painting, Best of Show cash award
  • 1985, July - John Hancock Merchant's Association Fine Arts juried exhibition, cash Award of Excellence
  • 1987, October 12-November 15 - Choices: Twenty Painters from the Midwest (MCAD Gallery)
  • 1988, November - Municipal Art League of Chicago, Finalist
  • 1989 - The Chicago Art Review: An Illustrated Survey of the City's Museums, Galleries, and Leading Artists (NOTE: The inclusion in The Chicago Art Review is especially noteworthy because that publication focused on notable artists working in the Chicago region rather than simply listing exhibition participants.

1990s

  • 1990 - Spiritual Visions: A Lithurgical Exhibition by Midwestern Artists Exploring the Relationship Between the Visual and the Spiritual 
  • 1994, September - The Chicago Society of Masts 30's, 40's, 50's Mid-Century Retrospective, Campbell Cultural Center, Geneva, IL
  • 1995 - Beacon Street Gallery
  • 1996, April - Beverly Art Center, Vanderpoel Gallery One-Man Show, "Chicago, Just Hangin' in There"
  • 1997, June - Moraine Valley Community College, DeCaprio Gallery, First Place Award
  • 1997, October - Northern Indiana Arts Association, Salon Show Cash Award
  • 1998, June - Moraine Valley Community College, DeCaprio Gallery First Place cash award for painting
  • 1998, September - Chicago Society of Artist's juried show, Anderson Art Center, Kenosha, WI
  • 1998, November - Chicago Art Open Professional Exhibition
  • 1999, March - SAN (Seniors Art Network), James R. Thompson Center, Juried exhibit
  • 1999, July - Moraine Valley Community College, DeCaprio Gallery, Juried Exhibition
  • 1999 - Chicago Art Open 

2000s

  • Chicago Art Open 2000
  • Chicago Art Open 2001
  • Chicago Art Open 2003

Digital Catalogue Raisonné

"Logging Camp" (Portland, Oregon) | Peter F. Volay | 1942 | Watercolor on Paper | Framed | Held in Private Collection

Home in Oregon (Portland, Oregon) | Peter F. Volay | 1942 | Watercolor on Paper | Framed | Held in Private Collection

"Farmland" | Peter F. Volay | Date Unknown | Watercolor on Paper | Framed | Held in Private Collection

"Rothenburg, Germany" | Peter F. Volay | circa 1975 | Watercolor on Unknown Medium | 20" x 24" Framed | Held in Private Collection

"The Manager" | Peter F. Volay | circa 1984 or 1985 | Acrylic on Canvas | 8" x 6.5" (13" x 9" with wood frame) | Private Collection

"Winter Mountain Scene" | Peter F. Volay | Date Unknown | Oil on Canvas | Framed | Held in Private Collection

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