His acclaimed series Redheaded Peckerwood is loosely based on the 1950s killing spree of Charles Starkweather and Caril Ann Fugate. The monograph was awarded the 2012 Recontres d'Arles Author Book Award among other prestigious awards. Prior to Redheaded Peckerwood, Patterson worked under William Eggleston. He is represented by Rose Gallery (Santa Monica) and Robert Morat (Hamburg/Berlin).