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).