Peggy Jane Murray began using her dog as subject matter when she was studying Art at Humboldt State in the 1970’s.  Her dog, Bazooka, had saved her from an intruder and the artist began to paint dog monument pieces in homage to the dog.  She continued to use her dog as a model while she pursued a Master’s degree in Printmaking at CSU at Chico.  Soon the imagery evolved to the point where the artist realized the dog represented the artist herself.

Ms. Murray states that using the anthropomorphic animal imagery allows her to explore and express her most intimate feelings about her relationships with the people in her life.  Often times, the narrative work invites the viewer to formulate his or her own story to relate to the work.

The artist uses serigraphy to create most of her work.  Serigraphy is a hand print process in which the artist squeegees ink through a stencil onto paper.  The stencil is mounted on a fabric mesh, which is mounted on a wooden frame.  Each successive color requires its own stencil and is printed separately.  The process may take weeks or months to complete.  In addition, the artist sketches in watercolor & gouache.

Ms. Murray’s work is shown extensively and included in numerous private and public collections, among them, the State of Hawaii.  She is a member of both the California Society of Printmakers and the Los Angeles Printmaking Society.

In 2003, the artist relocated her studio to Fortuna in Northern California.  There, she lives with her husband, Mike; her four cats, Moose, Duchess, Jake and Lucky; and her current dog model, Emma.

BORN:                       Berkeley, California, December 11, 1947

EDUCATION:           1980    CSU, Chico, M.A. Degree-Printmaking
                                    1976    Humboldt State University, B.A. Degree-Art

SELECT
EXHIBITIONS:         2006    Hart Gallery, Ferndale Repertory Theater, solo exhibition
                                    2005    Humboldt’s Finest, Eureka, CA, solo exhibition
                                    2002    “Peggy Jane Murray-Serigraphs, Terri Lee Clarke-  Ceramics”, Highland Art Center,                                                                         Weaverville, CA
                                    2000    “Pet Tricks”, Morris Graves Museum of Art, Eureka, CA, solo exhibition
                                    1999    “It’s Raining Cats & Dogs”, Lancaster Museum/Art Gallery, Lancaster, CA, featured artist
                                    1998    “Cat Samurai:  Recent Paintings”, James Snidle Fine Arts, Chico, CA, solo exhibition
                                    1997    “International Print Triennial ‘97”, Krakow, Poland
                                    1996    “All Creatures Great and Small”, John Natsoulas Gallery, Davis, CA, group show
                                    1992    “Reigning Cats and Dogs”, Maturango Museum, Ridgecrest, CA, solo exhibition
                                    1983    “Peggy Jane Garbutt”, Foster Goldstrom Gallery, San Francisco, CA, solo exhibition

AFFILIATIONS:       Los Angeles Printmaking Society
                                    California Society of Printmakers

COLLECTIONS:      Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts
                                    Edinboro State College, Pennsylvania
                                    Emanuel Hospital, Portland, Oregon
                                    The Art Bank, Humboldt Cultural Center, Eureka, CA
                                    Shields Library, University of California, Davis
                                    Janet Turner Print Gallery & the Art Department, CSU, Chico
                                    UNICEF Restoration Project, Krakow, Poland
                                    Numerous Private Collections

EMPLOYMENT:      Art Teacher, Antelope Valley Union High School District,
                                    Lancaster, CA, 1989-2003 (retired)
                                    Elementary Teacher-Fifth Grade, Palmdale, CA, 1987-89
                                    Printmaking Instructor, part-time, CSU, Chico, 1983-85
GALLERY
AFFILIATIONS:       James Snidle Fine Arts, Chico, CA
                                    James Snidle’s All About Me, San Francisco, CA
                                    Humboldt Artworks, Arcata, CA