Local artist Peter Forakis created Red Teepee in the year 2000. Forakis’ studio was located off Lakeville Street in Petaluma. Forakis passed away in 2009 and left the artwork to the Peter Forakis Art Foundation.
Forakis’ work is considered significant and influential by many, including San Francisco Chronical art critic Kenneth Baker, who credited him as the “originator of geometry-based sculpture from the 60’s.” Sculptures by Forakis have been collected by major museums around the United States.