Penns head to Big Apple

At the end of March husband and wife Richard and Robyn Penn will leave South Africa for New York City to take up the Ampersand Fellowship.

This award is given to outstanding South African visual artists with the aim of enriching their artistic experiences and feeding this into their work. The duo held a pop-up shop of their artwork to help cover some of their living expenses at Connect on 4th in Linden on 8 March.

“Most of the works here span a three year period, some of which have been traveling on exhibition,” explained Robyn Penn, “it’s interesting that we get the award and it propels us to do a show.”

Richard Penn agrees.

“This award is the best thing to happen to me in my career. It’s very important for the new energy it breaths into what we do. Look, now the award has become the impetus for this pop-up shop.”

The Ampersand Fellows both have studios at home and said that some of the work available at the showing had never been seen before. The couple explained that the show was not curated but was instead a collection of work they had and that the medium was varied.

Richard’s work deals with his interests in quantum physics and the origin of all things, while his wife showed intricate designs on recycled textbook paper, vast skylines and other paintings.

The duo’s passion for art is one of the unifying forces in their relationship.

“It’s brilliant to both be at the same level of our careers,” said the proud husband, “to get the recognition together means we will be able to share the memories of New York too.”

What are they looking forward to the most? Both say the different museums, original pieces and other art experiences. And the luxury of having time off.

“What’s important about the fellowship is that there are no expectations, it doesn’t ask anything of you, we are simply going for the experience,” said Mrs Penn.