For over three decades Peter Walker’s professional practice has spanned a variety of activity, including visual art, furniture design, wooden surfboard building and teaching.

Peter studied at the School of Art, University of Tasmania gaining an MFA Degree. He worked in his own studio for 14 years in Tasmania before moving to Adelaide to Head the Furniture Design Studio at the JamFactory Craft and Design Center in the late 90’s. Peter also spent five years as Design Consultant for Chiswell Furniture, Sydney, was a founding member of the Designer Makers Tasmania Cooperative in 1985 and a Co-Director of the 1991 Hobart Design Triennial. His work is represented in public and private collections, including the Australian Parliament House Permanent Art Collection and the RISD Museum of Art, Rhode Island School of Design, USA.

From 2001 to 2011 Peter was Associate Professor of Furniture Design at the Rhode Island School of Design, USA. He is currently Program Director, Master of Design at UniSA Creative, University of South Australia and has served on the Board of Trustees, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, Maine USA.

During his teaching career, Peter has served in roles of Chair of the Honorary Degrees Committee RISD, Graduate Program Director Furniture Design RISD, Department Head, Furniture Design RISD, Head of Furniture Design JamFactory Craft and Design Center. He has taught summer schools at Haystack Mountain School of Crafts and Anderson Ranch in the USA.

Peter has been the recipient of several prestigious awards including two Australia Council grants, RISD Alumni Entrepreneurial Award and a Gold Medal from the Design Institute of Australia. His work has been exhibited widely in Australia and North America in public galleries including the Museum of Fine Art Boston, Museum of Craft and Design San Francisco, Oceanside Museum of Art, California, South Australian Museum, the JamFactory South Australia and the Gallery of Australian Design, ACT.

In 2022 an illustrated monograph titled ‘Peter Walker:Tanglewood’ was published by Wakefield Press, including essays by Rosanne Somerson and Lara Merrington.

Peter has an active studio in the Adelaide Hills where he explores ideas through making, creates exhibition pieces and undertakes commissions.