Cochrane, Peter

American, b.1987

BiographyWorking with a large-format view camera similar to those used in the 19th century, Peter Cochrane depicts still-life arrangements he creates as homages to mentors in his queer community. Although no person sits for a portrait, Cochrane selects specific tree branches, dried leaves, and flower blossoms representing cycles of life and death. His images show nature’s fleeting vibrancy and evidence of its inevitable decay, and also serve as a metaphor for phrases cast to antagonize queerness as “against nature” or “unnatural.” In revealing the details of his temporary outdoor studio space, Cochrane points to the artificial societal structures of conformity and reminds us that we create our own beauty.

Peter Cochrane is a multimedia artist born in San Diego, CA in 1987. He completed his MFA in 2019 from Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts. He is a runner-up of the 2019 Snider Prize and a finalist for many awards, including the Kodak Photo Film Award. In 2022, he was nominated for the Shpilman International Prize for Excellence in Photography. He has held several solo exhibitions nationally, and in addition to the Museum of Contemporary Photography, his work is in public and private collections such as Capital One.

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