Sean Penlington

b. 1987
Lives and works in London
Represented by The International 3 gallery


My work is predominantly concerned with painting's history and how that affects its position today. I see the history within painting as part of a vocabulary or tool which can now be called upon to help develop the language's future. Using a traditional Carnivaleque idea of structure, reference and mockery as a framework, I try to create visual jokes based on perception.

Through contradiction based on expectation, the paintings fail in fulfilling the potential of the eluded to tradition and perhaps a new awkward space emerges.

2013 MA Fine Art Chelsea, UAL
2010 BA Fine Art 1st, Manchester School of Art

2013: FACK! West London Art Prize, Griffin Gallery, London
2013: Honeymoon: Paintings by Chelsea and Royal College of Art, Triangle Space, Chelsea College of Art, London
2013: Interim, Chelsea College of Art £ Design, UAL,London
2012: Creative Cities Collection, The Barbican Arts Centre, London
2012: NADA Cologne 2012, (The International 3), Cologne, Germany
2011: The New Lights Art Prize, The Mercer Art Gallery, Harrogate, North Yorkshire
2011: The Threadneedle Prize 2011, Mall Galleries, London
2011: The London Art Fair, The Catlin Art Guide, London
2010: The Manchester Contemporary, Manchester
2010: Saatchi 4 New Sensations & The House Of The Nobleman, London
2010: How It All Worked Out, The International 3, Manchester
2010: Manchester School of Art Degree Show, Manchester