Margaret Camfferman, along with her husband, Peter Camfferman (1890-1957) were among the earliest Modernist painters in the Northwest. Born in Rochester, Minnesota, Camfferman studied at the Minneapolis School of Fine Arts (where she met her husband), the New York School of Applied Arts & Design and with Robert Henri in NY and with Andre Lhote in Paris.

In 1914 she married and in 1915 they moved to Langley, Whidbey Island in Washington State. Margaret was an active exhibitor with the Northwest Annuals since the early 1920’s and for many years at the Seattle Art Museum after it opened in 1933. Camfferman ‘s work was in the manner of her master, Henri and followed in the manner of the Post-Impressionists. After studying with Lhote in Paris in 1932, her work took on influences of Cubism and became more experimental.

At Langley, she and Peter built their home and included additional cabins for visiting artists and instructors. Their home was called “Brachenwood” and they offered classes. During 1925-26, the Camfferman’s lived in New York City but returned to live permanently in Langley.

The Camfferman’s became part of Seattle’s Group of Twelve and were very highly regarded within the regional art community.

Like many women of her era, Margaret chose to focus attention on her husband’s career as a painter and was dedicated to his work even though she was 9 years his senior and had considerably more talent and experience in their early years together.

Margaret worked with the Public Works of Art Project during the Depression as an easel painter and had a solo exhibiton at the Seattle Art Museum in 1935. Besides local exhibitons, Margaret exhibited in San Francisco at the 1939 Golden Gate International Exhibiton, the San Francisco Art Museum and the Palace of the Legion of Honor. She also exhibited with the Smithsonian Travelling exhibitions from the 1920’s through 1956.

Peonies, 1947
Oil on Board

Peter Painting, c 1935
Oil on Board