Peter Cochrane - Fine Artist

Peter Cochrane, a Richmond Virginia based fine art photographer and owner/operator of Studio Threep, a fine art printing and multimedia studio, claims to love the climate of his adopted home. "As a person who could live on the surface of the sun and finally be warm I'm very happy to be roasting away in Virginia" he writes. And Richmond is fortunate that this San Diego native feels that way.

I first met Peter because I was looking for someone to print my photographs. I had tried a number of options and found them all lacking. I hoped to move up in terms of the quality of my prints and Peter delivered, far beyond my expectations. There is a richness, depth and precision to his prints that is immediately recognizable. If I had to describe his prints in one word, it would be lush.

Connecting with Peter was a tremendous stroke of luck for my own work, but it also introduced me to his photography. Simply put, Peter is the real deal. He is a first-tier artist with both national and international recognition.

As noted on his website, Peter "received his BA from San Francisco State University (2011) and his MFA from Virginia Commonwealth University (2019). His work has appeared in Headmaster, The San Francisco Chronicle, Vast Magazine, Hyperallertic, Brink, RVAMag, Lenscratch, and Artslant...among others. He has been the recipient or finalist of the Snider Prize, the Hopper Prize, the Tokyo International Photo Awards, the Fine Art Photography Award, the Exposure Award and the Kodak Photo Film Award...He has held several solo exhibitions nationally, and his work is in public and private collections..."

More information about Peter's background and accomplishments can be found here: https://www.petercochrane.xyz/about-cv

I recently heard from Peter about several exciting upcoming exhibitions and projects.

First, there is If Emmett Till Lived: Freedom on American Ground, an exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Photography in Chicago that opens in September 2026. An accompanying book will be published in conjunction with the exhibition.

As Peter wrote in a recent email, "The list of participating photographers is quite extraordinary and includes such greats as Dawoud Bey, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Keith Carter, Teju Cole, Bruce Davidson, An-My Lê, Danny Lyon, Sally Mann, Diana Matar, Gordon Parks , Walter Rosenblum, and Carrie Mae Weems. I'm honored to be included."

If you're able to get to Chicago, this promises to be an exceptional exhibition: https://www.mocp.org/exhibition/if-emmett-till-lived-freedom-on-american-ground-2/

Whether or not you can make the trip, be sure to take a look at the accompanying book: https://delmonicobooks.com/book/if-emmett-till-lived-a-creative-monument/

Peter also has another exciting opportunity this year. He has been selected as a participant in Oregon State University's Patricia Valian Reser Center for the Creative Arts (PRAx) Collaborative Fellowship. Peter explains: "This program brings together faculty in the sciences at OSU with artists internationally to collaborate on...something! Anything! I have been paired with Penelope Lindsay, a Research Associate in the Department of Botany and Plant Pathology. We are at the beginning stages of our dialogue, but I'm already completely bowled over by her work."

I have little doubt that we will be bowled over by the results of their collaboration. Spend a few minutes looking through Peter's photographs and you'll immediately understand why a partnership with a botanist seems almost destined.

You can learn more here:

PRAx Collaborative Faculty Fellowship:

https://prax.oregonstate.edu/2026-27-prax-collaborative-faculty-fellows

Peter Cochrane's website:

https://www.petercochrane.xyz/

There is much more happening in Peter's artistic life than I can cover here. The photograph accompanying this post, taken at a recent event at the Institute for Contemporary Art at Virginia Commonwealth University featuring his work, offers another glimpse into his growing recognition.

We are fortunate to have Peter in Richmond. His work is remarkable, and I recommend it wholeheartedly, whether you live here or halfway around the world.