Mary Ann Peters

“I work from the premise that images are never neutral and that they sustain layered meaning from the inception of an idea to the completed piece. Historical narratives, architecture, science, personal heritage, politics and questions of perception have all played a part in my thinking over the years.  I look for seemingly disparate elements that can coalesce and redefine a topic.  I have traveled extensively, most frequently in non-Western cultures. Traveling has informed my understanding of the global roots of aesthetics. It consistently defines for me those social practices that provide outlines for cultural inquiry, including which ethical questions should be considered or supported. In the end I work to the afterimage of the viewer and the potential discourse that might ensue.  The kiss of death for any artist is the work that no one can remember.”

- Mary Ann Peters

Mary Ann Peters lives and works in Seattle, WA  She received an MFA from the University of Washington in 1978. She has received numerous awards including an Art Matters Foundaton Grant, New York that allowed her to travel to Paris and Mexico City to research the migration from the Middle East after World War II, a grant from The New Foundation, Seattle in 2014,  a MacDowell Fellowship in 2010, a Jentel residency in 2009, the Northwest Institute of Architecture & Urban Studies in Italy (NIAUSI) residency in 2003 and the Neddy Fellowship from the Behnke Foundation in 2000. Collections include Microsoft, Seattle Art Museum, 4Culture, Tacoma Art Museum, and others.  

Private Commission 2008
“Find the Syrian Boys” 1993
"and the edge becomes the center" 2009
“Painting the river red” 2012
"storyboard (1)" 2014
"storyboard (4)"
"storyboard (2)" 2015
"storyboard 6" 2017
canopy, 2019
way station, 2019
traveler, 2019
nightingale, 2019
"slipstream (by the light of the moon)" 2017
"this trembling turf (the waters)" 2017
"this trembling turf (the hollow)"2021
"this trembling turf (down deep)" 2020
“impossible monument (flotsam)” 2015
“impossible monument (flotsam)” 2015 detail
"impossible monument the world is a garden" 2018
"impossible monument (nothing but the memory" 2016
"impossible monument (nothing but the memory)" 2016 detail
"impossible monument (on my eyes and my head)" 2015
"impossible monument (on my eyes and my head)" 2015 detail
Seattle Art Fair
July 19, 2024—July 28, 2024 | Open July 25 to 28, 2024 Lumen Filed Event Center
Seattle Art Fair
"Songs for Ritual and Remembrance"
June 17, 2023—September 17, 2023 | June 17- September 17 Arthur Ross Gallery, University of Pennsylvania
"Songs for Ritual and Remembrance"
Mary Ann Peters "Pulse of Time"
January 25, 2023—April 1, 2023 | Online Exhibition January 25 to April 1, 2023
Mary Ann Peters "Pulse of Time"
"Shadow Time: Claire Cowie, Fay Jones, and Mary Ann Peters" at studio e
May 3, 2022—June 26, 2022 | Reception Saturday, May 14th, 5-7PM at studio e in Georgetown, Seattle
"Shadow Time: Claire Cowie, Fay Jones, and Mary Ann Peters" at studio e
Site Insight
November 13, 2021—January 8, 2022 | Online Exhibition
Site Insight
Mary Ann Peters "Continental Drift"
March 14, 2021—May 8, 2021 | Online Exhibition
Mary Ann Peters "Continental Drift"
Mary Ann Peters: traveler
September 11, 2019—October 26, 2019 | Reception Saturday Sept 14th 11:30am to 1:30PM
Mary Ann Peters: traveler
James Harris Gallery at Seattle Art Fair
August 1, 2019—August 4, 2019 | August 1 - 4, 2019
James Harris Gallery at Seattle Art Fair
20/20: A 20th Anniversary Survey
June 12, 2019—August 17, 2019 | Reception: Thursday June 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm
20/20: A 20th Anniversary Survey
"Threading the Needle"
March 7, 2019—April 21, 2019 | Opening Reception Thursday April 4th, 6:00 - 8:00pm
"Threading the Needle"
Mary Ann Peters: "slipstream"
October 19, 2017—November 25, 2017 | Reception Thursday, October 19th, 6-8pm
Mary Ann Peters: "slipstream"
Northwest Pop Up
December 1, 2016—December 17, 2016 | Opening Reception: Thursday, December 1st, 6-8pm
Northwest Pop Up
"Pop Up, Pop In"
December 3, 2015—December 19, 2015 | Reception Thursday, December 3rd, 6-8PM
"Pop Up, Pop In"
Mary Ann Peters: "what stays the same is never so"
April 2, 2015—May 9, 2015 | Reception:Thursday, April 2, 6-8pm
Mary Ann Peters: "what stays the same is never so"
Mary Ann Peters "from a history of ruin"
October 4, 2012—October 27, 2012 | Reception Thursday, October 4th, 6-8PM
Mary Ann Peters "from a history of ruin"
"Mirage: Selected Paintings and Works on Paper
March 22, 2012—April 28, 2012 | Reception Thursday, March 22nd, 6-8PM
"Mirage: Selected Paintings and Works on Paper
"Mirror, Mirror"
April 1, 2010—May 8, 2010 | Reception Thursday, April 1, 2010
"Mirror, Mirror"
Mary Ann Peters, "and the edge becomes the center"
October 8, 2009—November 14, 2009
Mary Ann Peters, "and the edge becomes the center"
Mary Ann Peters: "New Work"
February 8, 2007—March 10, 2007 | Reception February 8th, 6-8PM
Mary Ann Peters: "New Work"
Mary Ann Peters: "Works on Paper"
January 5, 2006—February 11, 2006 | Reception Thursday, Jan. 5th, 6-8PM
Mary Ann Peters: "Works on Paper"
Mary Ann Peters Installation View Arthur Ross Gallery
"impossible monument (the ties that bind)" 2023
"storyboard (Mt. Lebanon)" 2023
"storyboard (the factory girls" 2023
"storyboard (double take)" 2023
"gilded" 2022
"an opening" 2022
"impossible monument the world is a garden" 2018
courtyard, 2019
way station, 2019
canopy, 2019
traveler, 2019
"in an instant; A Delicate Balance" 2007
"and the edge becomes the center" 2009
"then and now" 2012
"twilgiht" 2012
"the river" 2012
"down deep" 2012
"painting the river red" 2012
“mirage (from a history of ruin)” 2012
“impossible monument (flotsam)” 2015 detail
“impossible monument (flotsam)” 2015
"impossible monument" 2015
"storyboard (1)" 2014
"storyboard (2)" 2015
"history lesson" 2015
"no man's land" 2014
"storyboard 5" 2017
"impossible monument (tell tale)" 2017