Iona Peterson is a visionary intermedia artist based in Glasgow whose practice examines relationships between land, nature, and human intervention through a distinctly queer lens. Since graduating from Edinburgh College of Art in 2023, Peterson has swiftly established a presence in Scotland’s contemporary art scene, exhibiting at New Contemporaries at the Royal Scottish Academy and undertaking residencies at Edinburgh Sculpture Workshop and An Lanntair in Stornaway.
Peterson’s artistic methodology is deeply rooted in community building, with a process frequently informed by conversations, participation, and collaborative exchanges. This collective approach infuses the work with multifaceted perspectives whilst challenging conventional interpretations of our natural world. Currently, Peterson’s practice explores the adaptability of creatures responding to increased human activity.
For Hidden Door’s 2025 Festival, Peterson presents “High Tide”, transforming the exhibition space into an otherworldly shoreline where meticulously crafted jellyfish appear stranded on a concrete floor as if abandoned by a recently receded tide. These uncannily realistic creatures, fashioned from Jelly Wax, possess a bioluminescent quality, glowing in darkness to create a mesmerizing spectacle.
The installation presents a dystopian representation inspired by the increasingly common phenomenon of jellyfish washing ashore – not as casualties of environmental degradation, but as flourishing populations thriving amidst human-altered ecosystems. The distinctive glow-in-the-dark element introduces a dual metaphorical resonance: referencing both the threat of nuclear warfare in our oceans and visions of alien-like entities emerging from oceanic depths.
For Hidden Door’s 2024 Venue Launch Party at the Paper Factory, Peterson presented Archie and Community Board.
Find out more at instagram.com/iopete_art
