Adair's work is a vivid and layered exploration of color, design, and intuition. She works primarily in collage, mixed media, and acrylic on canvas, often blending playful spontaneity with deliberate composition. Recurring themes include botanical elements inspired by farmers’ market visits, the lively presence of birds outside her studio window, storm-wrecked fishing boats, and introspective figures—each reflecting a deep engagement with both external and internal landscapes.

Influenced by German Expressionism and Mexican Folk Art, Adair embraces bold color in both her paintings and papier-mâché sculptures. Her practice spans a range of media, including encaustic painting, chine-collé woodcut printmaking, and large-scale collage on canvas.

Originally from the Chicago suburbs, Adair was encouraged in her artistic pursuits by her mother, renowned painter Fay Peck. She earned her BFA in painting from Boston University and her MFA from Brooklyn College in New York. A constant observer, Adair draws wherever she goes, always seeking new ideas and imagery.

For the past 20 years, Adair has lived in Bozeman, Montana with her husband Todd, where they raised their three daughters—Madison, Margot, and Franny.

EDUCATION

​MFA 1990 Brooklyn College, New York, NY; Painting major, Printmaking minor
BFA 1987 Boston University, Boston, MA; Painting
Queens College 1986, New York, NY; Painting workshop w/ landscape focus
Anderson Ranch 1985, 1991, 1994, 1995, Snow Village, CO
University of Wisconsin 1983, Madison, WI
S.U.N.Y. Purchase 1982, New York, NY; Theater Set Design Workshop

RECENT FEATURED ARTICLES:

mvmagazine.com/news/2020/03/20/piece-work-adair-peck
www.classicchicagomagazine.com/down-to-a-fine-art/

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2018 Ecce Fine Art Gallery - Bozeman, MT
2018 Bozeman Library
2017 Ecce Fine Art Gallery - Bozeman, MT
2015 Bozeman Library
2014 Tart Gallery
​2008 Tart Gallery - Bozeman, MT
2007 Coop - Bozeman, MT
1995 Deerpath Art Gallery - Lake Forest, IL
1992 Gruen Galleries - Chicago, IL
1991 Evelyn Siegel Gallery - Fort Worth, TX
1990 West Beth Gallery - New York, NY
1988 Gilman Gruen Galleries - Chicago, IL

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2016 4 Ravens Gallery - Missoula, MT
2007-2013 Tart Gallery - Bozeman, MT
2008 Danforth Gallery - Livingston, MT
2007 Danforth Gallery - Livingston, MT
1997 Bob Blackburn Printmakers Workshop - New York, NY
1996 Jewels of Aspen - Aspen, CO
1996 Tenri Biennale - Nara, Japan
1995 Don Malton Gallery - Cincinnati, OH
1995 Gruen Galleries - Chicago, IL
1995 Aspen Art Museum - Aspen, CO
1994 Around the Coyote - Chicago, IL
1992 Stricoff Gallery - New York, NY
1991 Aspen Art Museum - Aspen, CO
1990 Deerpath Art Gallery - Lake Forest, IL
1988 Allan Stone Gallery - New York, NY
1987 Martin Luther King Gallery, Boston University - Boston, MA

Adair in her Bozeman, Montana studio

TEACHING

2009-2018 Artist in residence in Bozeman, MT schools.
1991–93 Instructor of mural projects at the Marwen Foundation. Executed large murals for sites in the Chicago area including The Museum of Contemporary Art and The First National Bank of Chicago
1991–92 Instructor of perspective drawing classes at the Marwen Foundation in Chicago, working with inner-city high school students drawing cityscapes
1990 Instructor of intermediate painting at Brooklyn College in New York City, teaching undergraduates the fundamentals of painting from life and from one's imagination

Adair as artist in residence at Longfellow Elementary

AWARDS

1994 Martin Sudar's Award, Best of Show, Deerpath Art League - Lake Forest, IL
1989 & 1991 Excellence in Painting Award, Deerpath Art League - Lake Forest, IL
1990 Scholarship, Brooklyn College - New York, NY
1987 Martin Luther King Award for Painting, Boston University - Boston, MA

EXPERIENCE

1994 Muralist, off-Broadway production “Fallen Angel," Circle in the Square Theater, New York, NY
1993 Set Designer and muralist, “Angel from Montgomery,” La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club, New York, NY
1993–96 Designer and muralist, retail space and restaurants throughout U.S.
1992 Muralist, “Fallen Angel,” La MaMa ETC., New York, NY, and the Halsted Theater, Chicago, IL