Lois Peterson received her MFA degree in Ceramics with minors in Drawing, Art History and Museum Studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas, she holds a BS degree in Art Ed, from the University of Wisconsin- LaCrosse. She was raised in the Driftless region of Western Wisconsin, where her family operated a dairy farm. Upon completion of her MFA in 1987 Peterson served as an Assist. Professor at Pacific Lutheran Univ in Tacoma, WA. In 1989 she joined the faculty of Gustavus Adolphus College in Saint Peter, MN. Prior to retiring from her teaching career in 2016 Peterson served as a Professor of Art/Art History for over 30 years.
Peterson exhibits nationally and regionally through solo and group exhibitions. Her artistic practice has been supported by multiple grants including the Blandin Foundation, Gustavus Adolphus College, and the Minnesota State Arts Board. Peterson works as a professional artist, speaker, advisor to emerging artists and serves on exhibition panels and grant review boards. Peterson is based in Dakota, Minnesota, situated on the banks of the Mississippi River. She maintains her studio practice in a location where the area's natural landscapes serve as an ongoing influence on her abstract and contemporary realistic drawings.
