Contact
johnpena@johnpena.net
I’m a multidisciplinary artist who makes art as a way of exploring the natural world and my daily interactions with others.
Sculpture/Installation
I make large and small-scale sculptures through which I explore the physicality of language in space.
Drawing
Every day for the last 14 years, I have made a drawing about my day. I then exhibit the drawings and publish annual books. For more info visit www.dailygeology.com
Public Art
My work includes community-based public art, site furnishings, and sculpture. Through much of my artmaking, I explore the role of language and text in the built environment.
Public Art Philosophy
When making public art, I often collaborate with participants, community members, businesses, and stakeholders. I have found that in a collaborative environment, my ideas can grow and change in exciting and unexpected ways. When working alone, I move quickly from idea to execution. But in a collaborative context, I am challenged to communicate my ideas and artistic process with others. In doing so, my normal methods are paused, giving way to new perspectives that can enrich my artmaking through the discovery of unforeseen ideas.