Peggy Rivers

Peggy Rivers, a look into a microcosm

Ars Gratia Artis

These paintings are my thoughts translated into images. I arrive at the finished work in an organic way; it is not preplanned. My process relies on trust and a technique developed over many years of painting. Because these pieces are not preconceived they are unique and unpredictable. Time, trust and personal energy bring my work to its conclusion.

The passages in these paintings reflect my entire knowledge of art and art history and they are at once contemporaneous and ancient in their themes and sensibilities. Some are ethereal and nebulous; some are lyrical and beautiful. The surprise of the structure and the invented color relationships are used to reflect the true content underneath the imagery. Ultimately, the complexity of the paintings' fabric is the result of my attempt to "document" the human condition beginning with my own experience.

Peggy's family settled in Southern California after living in Iceland where she was born. A professional artist and teacher for thirty years, she has taught and studied at a variety of institutions, from her first student show at California's Humboldt State University, to her MFA program at New York's Columbia University. She painted as a McColll Center affiliate artist from 2001-2002, and shortly thereafter was named Charlotte's "Artist of the Year" in 2002 by Creative Loafing magazine. Her work has been exhibited in Charlotte at the Mint Museum, the McColl Center, as well as in Spirit Square, and she is represented by Joie Lassiter in Charlotte. Peggy's work continues to evolve in several directions as she creates bodies of paintings focusing on different ideas that are linked together by a common heritage, her previous series. Her recent work focuses on an exploration of color, space, and form in an attempt to create a universe in each piece, a look into a microcosm.

Find out more at peggy.rivers.com