Peggy Thurston-Farrell

Peggy Thurston Farrell is an Emerita Professor of Art at Carroll University where she taught printmaking, design and was gallery director and curator of the Wisconsin Collection. Farrell received her M.F.A. in Printmaking from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and did her undergraduate work at Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Her work has been widely exhibited and collected. Over the years her work has evolved from the two-dimensional print medium to collaged, painted and silkscreened three-dimensional paper and wood constructions.

Farrell’s work has been shown in both solo and group exhibitions across the United States, Japan, Italy and regionally, including the Milwaukee Art Museum, the University of Tennessee’s Fine Arts Gallery, Tory Folliard Gallery and the Philadelphia Print Club. Most recently, her work was featured in the Artist Showcase at the Anderson Arts Center in Kenosha, Wisconsin,and Watercolor Wisconsin at the Wustum Museum of Art in Racine. In 2001 she was awarded the Professional Dimensions Sacajawea commission and in 2008 won the Waukesha Public Library commission to create a five-part relief piece titled Evolution of Expression that can be viewed in the new book area of the library.
In May of 2022, Farrell retired from Carroll University and celebrated with a solo Sabbatical Exhibition titled Foxconn Con in the Bliss Gallery at Carroll University. The work in the exhibition featured thought provoking, layered collages and mixed media silkscreen prints that addressed the issues of government corruption, pollution and climate change.

Farrell has been an active member of WPS/now WVA since 1977 and was president from 1980-1984. During her stint as president, she worked with Dorothy Provis, Tom Selle and Kristine Gunther to “clean-up” the membership. Non active members were eliminated and entry requirements clarified. Other activities involved the organization of the WVA Biennial held at UW-Milwaukee and a name change from WPS to WVA was implemented. It was felt that Wisconsin Visual Artists more aptly described the current artists involved in the organization.
Over the last 10 years Farrell served for several years on the membership committee with Chuck Wickler and entered many WVA exhibitions including two Artist Showcase Exhibitions in 2021 and 2025. A special highlight was the Japan/Wisconsin Art Exchange in 2008 titled Two Cultures One Spirit.
She is proud to be affiliated with WVA and enjoyed watching it grow and thrive over the many years. It is vital that we keep the arts alive in Wisconsin.