Peter Tovar is a seminal artist in the Chicano Art movement of Los Angeles. He is a founder of Bodega Colores, on-site gallery boutique at Self Help Graphics in East Los Angeles. Peter Tovar was born in San Francisco and grew up in Campbell, a small area outside San Jose. Peter began painting after being drafted to become an airplane mechanic in Vietnam. He continued to paint after the war, and in February 1994, had his first solo exhibit at Self Help Graphics' Galeria Otra Vez. The exhibit consisted of a series of acrylic paintings. His next exhibit at Arroyo Bookstore in Highland Park, featured his first use of pastels.