Peter Lik Style Photography Art Prints

What Are Peter Lik Style Prints?

"Peter Lik Style" prints, or what people are referring to when they say this, are prints produced using photographic papers that utilize silver halide, such as FujiFlex, that have inherent reflective properties and are finished using a museum quality process called acrylic face mounting. The three-dimensional "look" or "style" and illuminated, or back-lit visual appearance of Peter Lik fine art prints is achieved through the print process itself and then amplified by showcasing the work under high quality halogen lighting in a dim gallery environment. Individual colors, levels of contrast and overall luminescence of an image all play a role in how strong of an effect is achieved through this print process and presentation.

I have utilized these same printing methods for over a decade, offering the finest limited edition photography prints available today. Even in natural lighting environments the beauty of artwork that has been masterfully produced this way has a stunning and dynamic effect. Replicating the lighting in your home or office to emulate a fine art gallery presentation will multiply the beauty of the work ten fold.

All that being said, in reality, there is simply no such thing as Peter Lik Style Prints. There are acrylic face-mounted photography prints, produced by thousands of photographers around the world and there are acrylic face-mounted photography prints produced by artist Peter Lik. These truths are separate from each other, as one style does not belong to the other.

While the Acrylic print style is not exclusive to him, Peter Lik does in fact have a visual photography style, that I would describe as vibrant and colorful, often produced in a vertical or horizontal panoramic format. Lik also uses a style of photography print production called Acrylic Face Mounting for the majority of his work.

Who Is Peter Lik?

Peter Lik (born 1959) is a photographer from Australia, best known for his nature and panoramic landscape images. With 15 galleries currently operating across the US, many in high traffic vacation destinations, there has been an increased interest in his work in recent years. As a result Lik has enjoyed a great deal of success. On December 9th, 2014, Lik reportedly sold The worlds most expensive photograph though many news outlets and art critics, including the New York Times dispute this anonymous sale. One thing is for certain, Lik and his work both create quite a buzz!

So What Does Peter Lik Style Even Mean?

Lee Morris, a fellow photographer from FStoppers, was probably the first to use it online while writing about a method of displaying large photography prints back in 2011. Various photography print shops have used this phrase to describe the products they offer to photographers looking to print their own work. Fine Art Photography collectors have used the phrase when trying to describe the visual appearance of acrylic face mounted prints, a look that they don't quite understand and aren't sure how to put into words. Various e-commerce platforms like Ebay, Fine Art America and Etsy have also used the phrase to describe acrylic photography prints from a wide range of artists. In all of these examples, the phrase is being used to describe large acrylic photography prints in general, not specifically from any one artist.

Peter LIk USA has started using the phrase themselves, to describe Lik's own work on his website, which seems a bit strange to me personally. If we were discussing Nike sneakers, instead of photography prints, would Nike ever describe their own shoes as Nike Style Shoes? In fact, "style of" typically refers to something other than the named product. Maybe I'm missing something.This article is my own personal commentary, made in an effort to educate the general public about a descriptive term that has been widely, yet inaccurately used online for over a decade now, as well as Peter Lik's influence on landscape photography as well as collectors who buy acrylic face mounted photography prints.

Golden Season

The last light of a chilly autumn day comes to a close in a kaleidoscope of color both on earth and in the sky as seen from Last Dollar Road near Telluride, Colorado. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

How Has Lik's Brand Grown Through His Las Vegas Photography Galleries?

Lik's brand has experienced significant growth through his galleries in Las Vegas. Despite the popular misconception that the stunning acrylic prints showcased in these galleries are exclusively available there, this is not the case. Although it is difficult to quantify the exact number of visitors, it is safe to assume that a considerable portion of the vast number of tourists who visit Las Vegas each year have also made their way to one of Lik's four gallery locations.

The countless tourists who flow through his high-end galleries have become integral in nurturing Lik's brand. Their exposure to his artwork has helped to establish Lik's reputation as a highly regarded artist in the field of oversized acrylic face mount landscape prints. While Lik's contribution towards promoting this medium cannot be denied, it is important to recognize that he is not the sole originator of this art form.

The Peter Lik Tree?

In 2011, an image of a Japanese maple tree, located in Portland, Oregon titled The Tree of Life by photographer Peter Lik, was awarded 1st place in a photography contest called the Windland Smith Rice International Awards and was on exhibition at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C from April - September of 2012. Having been born and raised in Portland, this is a tree I have been photographing since 2007, before Peter Lik ever photographed it. Due to the showing at the Smithsonian, the Tree of Life became a very popular image for Peter Lik. Many of my images of this tree have gone on to be wildly successful as well. People really do love Portland's Japanese Maple but despite what Lik's gallery might tell you, it doesn't grow in a secret garden protected by gnomes and it isn't the Peter Lik Tree.

Falling Embers Panoramic

Transform your space with Aaron Reed's luxury fine art photography print, Embers, from his Panoramic Wall Art collection. Order yours today! Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.

Other Famous Photographs By Peter Lik

Peter Lik has a number of famous pieces that have helped to define his career. Here is a list of a small number of them by name.

1. Phantom: A photograph of a shaft of light and falling sand inside upper Antelope Canyon in Page, Arizona.

2. Tree of Life: A photograph of a Japanese Lace Leaf Maple tree located in the Portland Japanese Garden in Portland, Oregon.

3. Sacred Sunrise: A photograph of the rising sun illuminating the underside of a stone arch in Canyonlands National Park.

4. Endless Summer: A photograph of a sky full of clouds and the pacific ocean through Scripps Pier in La Jolla, California.

5. Spirit of The Universe: A composite photograph of a sky full of stars and sunset light over a lone tree and a field of lavender.

6. Ghost: A photograph of Antelope Canyon located in Page, Arizona.

7. One: An abstract photograph of trees reflected in a body of water.


What Type of Photography Does Peter Lik Do?

Peter Lik is primarely a landscape photographer, famous for his vibrant style nature photography prints seen in his galleries throughout major cities across the US. Lik also has a large portfolio of airplane and aviation photography as well as wildlife photography.

Shapeshifter

A plume of dust, stirred by the swirling winds of a sculpted slot canyon are caught in a lone beam of sun penetrating the maze. Flashed to blinding white, the dancing motes become an eerie inferno, yawning out of a portal to another world. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100

Peter Lik For Sale | Peter Lik Galleries

In 1997, Lik opened his first gallery, in Cairns, Australia. He opened his first US gallery in Lahaina, Hawaii, in 2003, and his first in Las Vegas in Caesars Palace in 2005. Peter Lik Fine Art Photography opened in the Plaza Hotel in Manhattan in November 2008, as part of the hotel's new high-end retail concourse. He went on to open another Manhattan gallery, in the SoHo neighborhood. Overall, he has four galleries in Las Vegas and nine others across the US.

At the time of this writing, photographer Peter Lik operates 10 fine art photography galleries across the US.

Lik Fine Art Gallery - Aspen, Colorado
Lik Fine Art Gallery - Caesars, Las Vegas, Nevada
Lik Fine Art Gallery - The Forum, Las Vegas, Nevada
Lik Fine Art Gallery - Key West, Florida

Lik Fine Art Gallery - Lahaina, Maui (indefinitely closed)

On August 8th, 2023 and into August 9th, a devastating wildfire ripped across Maui and was especially damaging in the historic town of Lahaina. The Peter Lik Fine Art Gallery, along with 18 eighteen other photography and art galleries in Lahaina were destroyed by this apocalyptic event.

Lik Fine Art Gallery - La Jolla, California
Lik Fine Art Gallery - Madison Avenue, New York, New York
Lik Fine Art Gallery - Mandalay, Las Vegas, Nevada
Lik Fine Art Gallery - Miami, Florida
Lik Fine Art Gallery - Soho, New York, New York
Lik Fine Art Gallery - The Venetian, Las Vegas, Nevada

Heavens Gate

The gnarled branches of a Japanese maple spread forth a flaming crown in a sculpted garden in Portland, Oregon. Beside a tranquil pond, the winding footpaths and soft beds of moss are scattered with the gold and crimson stars from this dazzling display. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.

Out To Sea Pano

Gentle waves roll through the hollow corridor of an old pier near La Jolla, California. Out at sea, the brilliance of the sunset is hushed by a heavy blanket of marine fog waiting at the horizon. Fine Art Limited Edition of 100.

Let There Be Light

A wildfire sunset climbs up the forgotten walkways of the emerald temple of Kirkjufellsfoss in Iceland. Shrouds of whitewater trickle past jeweled gardens of moss on their way to the frigid plain of the open ocean. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50 by photographer Aaron Reed.

What Kind of Paper Does Peter Lik Print On?

Peter Lik mentions on his website that he uses silver halide material for his Limited Edition images. Historically, this has been known as FujiFlex. Fuji Crystal Archive Silver Halide is a fine art photographic paper with a white polyester base providing unmatched levels of surface gloss, sharpness and color depth.

Produced by Fujifilm, this incredible silver halide photographic paper creates a visual depth and clarity that is particularly beautiful with rich, saturated imagery. As mentioned on his website, this paper is the medium of choice of Peter Lik and many other photographers around the world, producing some of the highest quality photographic prints available today.

What Camera Does Peter Link Use?

Lik is best known for his panoramic photographs captured with a Linhof 617 Technorama and using Fuji film. He also creates digital photographs using a number of cameras including a Phase One, the Nikon D850 and the new FujiFlex GFX100.

The Window
Transform your space with Aaron Reed's luxury fine art photography print, The Window, from his Panoramic Wall Art collection. Order yours today! Fine Art Limited Edition of 100

So Is It The Art Or The Artist?

These type of prints are produced using photographic papers that utilize silver halide, such as FujiFlex, that have inherent reflective properties and are finished using a museum quality process called acrylic face mounting. While the look discussed here is mostly due to the print process and materials used themselves, individual colors, levels of contrast and overall luminescence of an image all play a role in how strong of an effect is achieved through this print method or style. Even in natural lighting environments the beauty of artwork that has been masterfully produced this way has a stunning and dynamic effect. Replicating the lighting in your home or office to emulate a fine art gallery presentation will multiply the beauty of the work ten fold. As an artist, you can utilize these same printing methods.

California Love

Waves pulverize the living rock in Garrapata State Park, along California’s central coast. The ruddy hues of ice plant beds create an illusion of imaginary fall as evening falls across the far West. Fine Art Limited Edition of 50.


What Are Acrylic Face Mounted Prints?

Face mounting is a print finishing process that involves taking a traditional photographic print and applying an optically clear adhesive to the face of the print to then adhere (back mount) the print to acrylic glass. Once this process is completed, a backing material like Dibond or a second sheet of acrylic is adhered to the backside of the print to offer protection and provide stability to the artwork. Finally, the completed piece is either framed externally or finished with a float mount that allows the print to hang frameless on the wall appearing to float in place. This type of finishing process does not require external framing of any kind and provides a clean and modern appearance when displayed. The example below shows the anatomy and materials used with the acrylic face mounting process.



The Wash | Oceans & Rivers Photography | Aaron Reed


So How Much Is A Peter Lik Print?

Today you can find pricing for much of Lik's newest work online on his website. According to interview and subsequent article written by the New York Times, pricing typically starts between $4000 - $5500. When 95 percent of an image has sold it becomes “Premium Peter Lik” and the price jumps to $17,500. At 98 percent, it’s “Second Level Premium Peter Lik” and leaps to $35,000. And when the image gets down to its last handful, the prices can go as high as $200,000 or more.

Is Phantom the World's Most Expensive Photo?

On May 15th, 2022, this disputed record was smashed when Man Ray's famed "Le Violon d'Ingres" made history Saturday when it became the most expensive photograph ever to sell at auction. The black and white image, taken in 1924 by the American surrealist artist, transforms a woman's naked body into a violin by overlaying the picture of her back with f-holes. The original print of the masterpiece, widely considered to be Man Ray's most famous work, sold for $12.4 million, smashing sale estimates. Prior to the sale, it was expected to fetch between $5-7 million, the highest estimate for a single photograph in auction history, according to Christie's, which sold the work.


Last Man Standing | Ocean Fine Art | Aaron Reed

Last Man Standing, a limited edition fine art photography print by artist Aaron Reed.

Is Fine Art Photography Valuable?

This is a question you are going to need to answer for yourself, because value can be determined a number of different ways. If your idea of value comes from the satisfaction and beauty on your walls, I have no doubt you will find the value you are looking for. To determine monetary value or investment value, I would encourage you to research auction sites online, such as 1stdibs or Artbrokerage, where you can find actual prices artwork is selling for and has sold for in the past.

The Most Beautiful Prints In The World

Acrylic Face Mounted prints are my suggested print medium of choice for a number of reasons, the first and most important of these being the image quality and overall visual presentation of the work. As described above, dynamic images produced as gallery quality acrylic face mounted prints, when produced by a master printer using the finest materials available today are without equal.

I direct hundreds of these pieces to be produced on my behalf for collectors of my work each year with staggering results. The detail, contrast, color and luminosity of these prints is spectacular and the way the images appear to grow brighter & richer depending on the quality of light falling on them is nothing short of exquisite. While the cost of these pieces keep some potential customers from owning this type of art, those who are fortunate enough to treat themselves are never disappointed in having made this decision.


Non Affiliation Disclaimer

Aaron Reed Photography, LLC is an independent business. Aaron Reed & The Luxury Fine Art website is not affiliated, associated, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with any other company, agency or government agency. All product and company names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders. The use of any trade name or trademark is for identification and reference purposes only and does not imply any association with the trademark holder of their product brand(s). All photographs found on this website are owned and copyrighted by Aaron Reed Photography, LLC.


Shockwaves | Abstract Photography | Aaron Reed
Dreamweaver
Falling Embers Panoramic
Silken Stone
California Love
Last Man Standing
California Dreaming
Riptide
Pebble Beach Icon
Best Seat In The House
Stone Castles
The Walls
The Empire
Wind & Water
The Red Carpet
Coal Mine Canyon
Dreamscape
Lonely Afternoons
Crimson Heights
Autumn Splendor
Sweet Dreams
Prodigy
Let There Be Light
DragonSkin