About Peggy Snider

Peggy Snider, ceramic artist in Santa Cruz, California"I do not remember a time when art was not the focus of my life."

I began oil painting at age 5 as a way for my godfather, painter Bill Larkin, to keep me still so he could paint my portrait. A year later I had a one-girl show of my oil paintings. By high school, I had branched out to set design and began designing for summer stock theaters. I graduated Bennington College with degrees in both painting and set design. After apprenticing on Broadway two winters, I thought I would make my career in New York. But it was the late 60’s and San Francisco was calling my name. I could not refuse.

Arriving on the West Coast, I knew instantly this was the place for me. The light, the weather, the openness of the people all grabbed me and I was a goner. I became designer at the San Francisco Mime Troupe. During six years there, I learned to juggle literally and metaphorically. Juggling motherhood, career and personal passions, I co-founded the Pickle Family Circus. My children, Gypsy Snider and Lorenzo Pisoni, performed by my side.

Peggy Snider and Larry Pisoni, Pickle Family Circus

Peggy Snider and Larry Pisoni, Pickle Family Circus

I spent eighteen years managing the company, performing, and designing the costumes, masks, props and backdrops. During that period, I also designed award-winning sets and costumes for other Bay Area theatrical companies, including Berkeley Repertory Theater, The Marin Theater Company, Dell’Arte Players and the Eureka Theater Company.

Since then, I have been a model maker, upholsterer, set decorator and wardrobe worker on numerous films, including Popeye, Patch Adams, Bicentennial Man, Sphere and Matrix II and Matrix III. I was on the staff of the Wardrobe Department of Nash Bridges for five years. I have been a photographer since 1965 and a ceramic sculptor since 1980.


Contact Peggy Snider at: peggysnidersculpture@gmail.com

Sculpture photography by Paul Schraub: paulschraubphoto.com