The Cope House Gallery
Peacock Landscapes and other Joyful Moments
Diane Pieri
May 5th – June 29th, 2026
Opening Reception May 7th | 6-8 PM
Gallery Talk: May 28th | 6-8 PM
Peacock Landscapes is a series of 10 paintings on Amate, Mexican Bark paper. Each work measures 16”(w) x 23”(h) and is painted with various water based paints and collaged with decorative papers using Jade archival adhesive.
My creative desire is always to bring joy and beauty to the viewer and help release this happiness into the air we breathe. In many cultures, the peacock is a symbol of beauty, grace, new beginnings and spiritual awakenings. The peacock is the national bird of India and peacock blue reflects the depth of the ocean. In Hinduism, peacocks are connected to Lakshmi, the goddess of good fortune. All of these references are embodied in my peacocks.
About the artist: Since 1969 Diane Pieri has had 34 solo exhibitions, 226 national and international group exhibitions. She has been the recipient of two Pollock-Krasner Grants (1999/1992), two Independence Foundation Fellowships in the Arts (2001/2011), a Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Grant (1992). She was included in the 2005 Philadelphia Invitational Portfolio, Philagrafika. She has been a fellow at Yaddo (1991), The MacDowell Colony (1990). In 1990 Pieri was an Artist-in-Residence at Mark diSuvero’s Socrates Sculpture Park where she created a 15 ft. sculpture, called Gateway.
In 2006 Pieri’s public art project, “Manayunk Stoops: Heart and Home”, a series of 9 seating elements fabricated in Italian tesserae, was installed along the Manayunk towpath through the Association for Public Art’s New Land Marks Program. Working with Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program, Pieri has completed 12 murals since 2001. Since 2009 she has completed 7 murals in College Station, Texas. In 2005 Pieri founded the Cooke Museum of Art at the Jay Cooke Elementary School in North Philadelphia. This museum was the only established museum within a Philadelphia public school. In 2012 she was invited to collaborate with Anthropologie to design a robe and loungers based on her images. In 2024, an image from the Phases of the Sun series was chosen to be reproduced for Philly Eyeworks/Innervisions lens cloths.
The Cope House Art Gallery at Awbury Arboretum presents rotating exhibitions by local artists year-round. The gallery offers visitors a way to engage with art, history, and the natural landscape in one setting.
By partnering with local artists, Awbury is able to present free art shows March through December every year. As an exhibition space where beautiful and thought-provoking art is displayed, the Cope House Gallery is a valuable resource for both local artists and art lovers. Admission is free. Artwork is available for purchase, with a portion of proceeds supporting the Arboretum’s programs.
The Cope House Gallery Hours:
Monday-Thursday: 10am – 4pm.
Friday-Sunday: By appointment only.
Hours are subject to change due to rentals & events.
(Please see our Hours and Admission page for holiday closings, etc.)
Questions? Please contact our Arts Advisory Committee at artcommittee@awbury.org.