about Peggy

Peggy Washburn's fine art is inspired by classical myth-
ology, studies pertaining to memory and mathematical
definitions. Major art collections have acquired her work
including the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
at the University of Texas, The Bibliotheque Nationale
de France and The Ralph Lauren collection. Her work
has been widely published, she's had numerous solo
shows both locally and nationally, and has been
included in exhibits at the Whatcom Museum in
Bellingham, The Fry Art Museum in Seattle and Museo
di Fotografia in Brescia, Italy. She is represented by
The Benham Gallery in Seattle, and The Beacon
Firehouse Gallery in New York. Although the art world
keeps her busy, she still makes time for portrait
commissions in her Seattle area studio.

It wasn't always this way. She had been a fine-art
Photographer, painter and mixed media artist for several
years before Marita Holdaway of Seattle's Benham Gallery
noticed her work in 1990, offered to represent her and invited her to join the gallery's
Resident Artist program. Along with her fine art work, Peggy photographed her neighbors, rock bands, aspiring actors and models, attorneys and children -always children. When she became pregnant again in 1995, the need for a more flexible job led her to start making portraits commercially, and she began to focus on children.

Combining fine art and commercial portraiture brought her new attention. She found that some children have an inherent complexity that only the camera can catch and she began to explore their internal life in her work. As this phenomenon grew clearer, the line between work and art blurred even more. She became the opposite of a traditional portrait photographer. Forced smiles and poses didn't interest her. She began to concentrate on what lay undiscovered, even by her subjects' own parents. She has photographed the children of prominent Seattle families and art collectors, and her work draws increasing interest from major players in the art world. Numerous venues have showcased her work and this year she's hoping to publish her completed book project "Old Souls".

Peggy is available by appointment for sittings, and her primary gallery representation is Seattle's Benham Gallery and The Beacon Firehouse Gallery in New York.

exhibitions

May 2008, 23 Sandy Gallery, Portland OR, Resurrection
April 2008, Friesen Gallery, Seattle WA, Seeds of Change
March 2008, Museo Genova Nervi, Genova Italy, She Shots
October 2007 Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Tangential Relationships
Oct 2005 The Beacon Firehouse Gallery , Beacon, NY, Transparencies
Oct 2004 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Stories
Feb-Mar 2004 Clockwork Apple Gallery, New York, NY
Jul-Aug 2003 Ricco-Maresca Gallery, New York, NY, The Home
May-Sep 2003 Whatcom Museum of History & Art, Bellingham WA, Photography Now
Jan 2003 Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA, Contemporary Northwest Women in Photography
Jan 2003 Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, Elizabeth Brown Juried
             International
Oct 2002 The Barret Art Center, Poughkeepsie, NY, New Directions, Joan Young, Curator
Jun 2002 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Ghosts
Dec 2000 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, Two Years Later
Oct-Nov 1999 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Two Years Later (featured artist w/
              Mark Sink and Jock Sturges)
Apr 1998 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, Faculty Showcase
Sep 1997 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Time Out
Apr 1997 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, Joyce Tenneson Juried
              International
Dec 1996 Il Museo di Fotographica, Brescia, Italy, Benham Gallery Resident Artist's Show
Apr 1996 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, Faculty Showcase
Oct 1995 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, On the Road
Apr 1995 Center on Contemporary Art, Joel-Peter Witkin Juried International
Feb 1995 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Intimate Images
May 1994 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Redefined Form
June 1993 The Nelleke Nix Gallery, Kirkland, WA, Polaroid Showcase International
June 1993 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, A Mother's Celebration
Apr 1993 The Photographic Center Northwest, Seattle, WA, Duane Michals Juried
              International
Feb 1993 The Benham Gallery, Seattle, WA, Northwest Women's Invitational

teaching/lectures/seminars

Nov 2004 University of Washington, Guest Lecturer
Jan 2003 Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA
     Panel Discussion with Dr. Naomi Rosenblum
May 2003 University of Washington Guest Lecturer
     Directions in Photography Guest Lecturer and Juror
1991-2002 Photographic Center Northwest
Bellevue Community College, Faculty/Instructor

community involvement

2003-2005 Photographer, Heart Gallery (Traveling state-funded exhibit involving
     children awaiting adoption)
1998-1999 Instructor, Youth in Focus (Non-Profit program for at-risk youth)
1998-1999 Insight Youth (Non-profit program for at-risk youth)