Awards and Achievements

Solo Exhibitions

All works are in black and white. Thelma Pepper shoots and prints all her own photographs. Also see Thelma Pepper's Resume.

Thelma Pepper - Ordinary Women. A Retrospective | Remai Modern (2020-2021)

A Retrospective highlights the life’s work of one of Saskatchewan’s preeminent senior artists, Thelma Pepper (1920-2020), an important photographer, feminist and activist. Known for her black and white photographs, Pepper documented the lives of Prairie women and men, putting their experiences and resilience into focus. Connecting through shared stories, Pepper illuminated the critical roles women held within their seemingly ordinary, everyday environments. Her photographs of elders exemplify compassion, dignity and intimacy. Her portraits are the result of her deep curiosity and warmth, which put her subjects at ease. Pepper was a vibrant spirit and brilliant listener and storyteller.

Solo Exhibitions

2017 - Curated Exhibition ‘Still - The Photography of Thelma Pepper’, Hague Gallery, Regina

2014 - The Lieutenant Governor’s Arts Awards - Retrospective Exhibition, Saskatoon

2014 - Thelma Pepper Photographic Retrospective – Art Placement Gallery, Saskatoon

2012 - Over 40 large format portrait photographs selected from the book ‘Human Touch’ Portraits of Strength Courage and Dignity, Frances Morrison Library (Saskatoon)

2012 - Seven portraits selected from the book ‘Human Touch – Portraits of Strength Courage and Dignity, Dunlop Art Gallery, Regina

Untie the Spirit (solo)

2007-2009 - 22 Saskatchewan town tour presented through Organization of Saskatchewan Arts Councils (OSAC)

2006 - Untie the Spirit with documentary film - A Year at Sherbrooke Acadia University Art Gallery, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

2006 - Untie the Spirit - An exhibition of portrait photographs on the spirit of Sherbrooke Community Centre, Saskatoon

Spaces of Belonging - A Journey along Highway 41 (solo)

1998 - Mendel Art Gallery. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

1996, 1997, 1998 - 21 Saskatchewan town tour - Organized and presented through Organization of Saskatchewan Art Councils (OSAC) - including audio interview installation

1995 - Kenderdine Art Gallery, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon

1995 - The Little Gallery, Prince Albert, Saskatchewan

1993 - Workshop Gallery, Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon

Decades of Voices (solo)

All Exhibitions include Audio Interview Installation.

1996 - Muttart Art Gallery, Calgary, Alberta

1995 - Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, Inverness, Scotland

1995 - London Guildhall Exchange, London, England

1990 - Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

1994 - Gallery 44, Toronto, Ontario

1993 - Northern Life Museum, Fort Smith, Northwest Territories

1993 - Moose Jaw Art Museum, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

1993 - Swift Current National Exhibition Centre, Swift Current, Saskatchewan

1992 - Floating Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba

1992 - Acadia University Art Gallery, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

1992 - St. Mary’s University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

1992 - Eastern Edge, St John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador

1991 - Robert McLaughlin Gallery, Oshawa, Ontario

1991 - Dunlop Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan

1991 - Estevan National Exhibition, Estevan, Saskatchewan

1990 - Opening – Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

A Visual Heritage 1900-1930

Thelma Pepper prints entire exhibition from her father’s and grandfather’s negatives.

1986–1987 - Diefenbaker Centre, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

1983 - Macdonald Museum, Middleton, Nova Scotia

Group Exhibitions

Thelma Pepper’s photographs have been included in the following group exhibitions.

1986-2013

2013 - Big Bang Theory

Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Curated by Timothy Long. Includes single portrait of "Dmytro Stryjek"

2012 - The Home Show

Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon. Includes single portrait photograph.

1998 - Saskatchewan Arts Board celebrating 50th anniversary.

MacKenzie Art Gallery, Regina. includes single portrait photograph.

1994, 1995, 1996 - Search, Image and Identity: Voicing Our West.

  • Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
  • Struts Gallery, Sackville, New Brunswick
  • Gallery 44, Toronto, Ontario
  • Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, British Columbia
  • Floating Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Open Space, Victoria, British Columbia
  • Truck Gallery, Calgary, Alberta
  • Whyte Museum of the Canadian Rockies, Banff, Alberta
  • Finish Museum of Photography, Helsenki, Finland

1992 - Between Time and Space

Curators Don Hall and Randy Burton.

  • Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
  • Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta
  • Sackville Art Gallery, Sackville, New Brunswick
  • Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta

1990 - Saskatchewan Open ’90

Mendel Art Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

1987 - Thelma Pepper - Photographs of Saskatchewan Artist Dmytro Stryjek

Thelma’s photograph ‘Dmytro at Home’ part of a touring exhibition on Dymtro Styjek

  • Art Gallery of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
  • Winnipeg Art Gallery, Winnipeg, Manitoba
  • Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta
  • Thunder Bay National Exhibition Centre and Centre for Indian Art, Thunder Bay, ON

1987 Saskatchewan ’87

Two photographs accepted into exhibition juried by Kate Davis. Glenbow Museum, Calgary, Alberta

1986 - National Portrait Show

Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

1986 - Portfolio Grouping

Photographers Gallery, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Permanent Collections

1987-2010

2010 - Untie the Spirit

Sherbrook Community Centre - A Deed of Gift – 65 original black and white photographs in Permanent Collection

2001 - Spaces of Belonging – A Journey along Highway 41

Permanent Collection at Mendel Art Gallery. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

2001 - Decades of Voices

Selection of Portrait Photographs - Permanent Collection at Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan

2000- Decades of Voices

Selection of Portrait Photographs - Permanent Collection at Saskatchewan Arts Board, Regina, Saskatchewan

2000 - Decades of Voices

Selection of Portrait Photographs - Permanent Collection at University Saskatchewan Art Galleries, Saskatoon

1987 - Dmytro Stryjek Photographs

Permanent Collection Mackenzie Art Gallery, Regina, Saskatchewan

1987 - Dmytro Stryjek Photographs

Permanent Collection - University of Saskatchewan Art Galleries, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan

Thelma Pepper's Achievements