JACK PENNY
(United Kingdom)

In his evocative figurative paintings, British artist Jack Penny depicts contemporary urban life from the perspective of a rural-dwelling outsider. Penny’s largely improvised and haphazard compositions question the sustainability of modern society, established systems, and the nine-to-five hustle of the blue-collar and white-collar workers as they go about their daily lives. Penny’s creative practice is motivated by a search for authenticity. He is driven by capturing a real sense of humanity within his work. 

Viewing himself as a 21st century documentarian of city life, like George Grosz did before him, Penny paints uniform and seemingly anonymous figures clustered together, as if they were searching for validation in numbers. Rather than relying on manipulative techniques to develop a painting, Jack is conscious of trying to spark his audience’s sensory awareness as they experience his work. As he paints, Penny attempts to act before making choices. Without hesitation, he responds spontaneously to the work developing before him, relying only upon his initial instincts when making decisions regarding the colours, textures or lines. Penny’s influences include the instinctive spontaneity of de Kooning, the palette of Diebenkorn, the vulnerability of Baselitz, and the vitality of Nick Cave.

Over the past two years, Jack has shown four solo exhibitions in London, Berlin, and Hong Kong.



EXHIBITION HISTORY    •    Full CV in PDF







JACK PENNY

Artworks

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Jack Penny out of series - a mental impression 84 x 59 cm, 2018 oil bars and pastels on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny last order series - last order in berlin 63 x 93 cm, 2018 acrylic and pastels on cardboard in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny face series - face to face 5 84 x 58 cm, 2016 oil paint and pastels on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny lisbon series - portrait of a man 84 x 58 cm, 2018 pastels and water colour on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny lisbon series - waiting 152.5 x 101.5 cm, 2018 acrylic, pastels and charcoal on board in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny private member series - deconstruction 2 84 x 59 cm, 2018 oil paint and pastels on board in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny private member series - private members garden party 102 x 82 cm, 2018 oil and pastels on board in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny private member series - private house 84 x 58 cm, 2018 oil paint and pastels on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny private member series - the room 59 x 84 cm, 2016 oil on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny private member series - the dancers 58 x 90 cm, 2018 oils and pastels on board in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny spati series - the crowd 2 97 x 72 cm, 2015 acrylic and pastels on reclaimed board in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny commuters series - commuters black 2 84 x 59 cm, 2018 oil bars on on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny commuters series - commuters 1 84 x 59 cm, 2018 oil bars on on paper in A Mental Impressiom - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | 23 Feb - 16 Mar 2019
Jack Penny through the trees 156 x 105 cm, 2017 oil and pastels on canvas in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny through the trees on paper 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny tropical lounging 152.5 x 122 cm, 2016 pastels on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny rotating faces 150 x 99 cm, 2017 oil on canvas in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny series of dreams 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny things have changed 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny tropical dancing 95 x 65 cm, 2017 oil and pastels on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny overtime 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny out of range 84 x 58 cm, 2017 oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny lounging in Paris 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and acrylic on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny last orders yellow 122 x 76 cm, 2015 oil on canvas in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny figure sitting 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and acrylic on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny blue 84 x 58 cm, 2017 acrylic on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny back to nature 122 x 91.5 cm, 2017 oil on canvas in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny blood in my eyes for you 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and acrylic on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny waiting for Hugo 122 x 91.5 cm, 2017 oil on canvas in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny face to face 75 x 55 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny Face to Face 2 75 x 55 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny commuters 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny puerto rico blue 84 x 58 cm, 2017 pastels and acrylic on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny my mother was quiet and educated 84 x 58 cm, 2017 oil on canvas in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny deconstructed park 75 x 55 cm, 2016 pastels and oil on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018
Jack Penny deconstructed room 75 x 55 cm, 2016 pastels and acrylic on paper in Naturelust - Jack Penny - a solo exhibition | Jan 25 - Mar 8, 2018