Peretz Wolf-Prusan was born in Los Angeles, CA in 1954. He grew up in a sign shop run by his grandfather, who hand painted signs, and his father, who made neon signs. Influenced by the social justice poster art of Sister Corita Kent and the work of Ben Shahn, he took up graphic art creating posters protesting the war in Vietnam and in support of Soviet Jewry.
Peretz came to the Bay Area to study printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute (1976-1978). He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, summa cum laude, from the Center for Experimental and Interdisciplinary Arts at San Francisco State University (1985).
From 1974-1984 Peretz created Ketubbot (Illuminated Jewish Wedding Documents) and in 1981 he published A Guide to Hebrew Lettering, UAHC Press. His love of Hebrew letters led him to change course, close his studio and become an ordained Rabbi, leading to a 30-year career in Jewish education.
Recently, the artist has returned to his studio to work in screen printing, calligraphy and mixed media. Peretz grateful acknowledges the influence of Japanese and Chinese calligraphy and the art of Native American tribes of the Northwest Coast of North America. His work today marries his interest in Hebrew lettering with his print making skills and enthusiasm for social justice. Calling upon Peretz’s knowledge of biblical, prophetic and Talmudic texts, he is creating a body of work that blends the profoundly spiritual with moving colorful imagery.