RICHARD PENN

Richard is a self-taught animator with a Masters Degree in Fine Arts (with distinction) from the University of the Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, South Africa. In 1997 he was awarded 3rd place in the PPC Young Concrete Sculptor Award. After completing his honours degree in 1998, majoring in painting with distinction he developed and taught an animation course for 1st, 2nd and 3rd years in the Fine Arts Department at Wits University. In the years leading up to 2004 he has been a finalist in the ABSA Atelier, The Kempton Park Art Competition and The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition. In 2000 he collected and compiled a 2 hour animation Programme for the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival and Urban Futures. In 2004 he was awarded the overall winners prize in The Sasol New Signatures Art Competition. In 2002 he accepted the position of Head of Animation at AFDA Johannesburg (The South African School for Motion Picture Medium and Live Performance) and maintained that position until 2009. In 2007 he accepted the position of Vice- Principal of the Learning Department at AFDA but resigned from that position in 2008 to complete his Masters degree and to concentrate on his career as an artist. In 2009 he developed and is facilitating introductory animation courses for school learners. He has co- Animated and co-directed 2 short films with Mocke J Van Veuren, and has directed and animated 3 short films of his own. In 2010 he started STRANGE Blue duck, an animation training company which teaches stop-frame animation to children from 9 years and up and facilitates corporate animation team-building and creative enrichment workshops.

EXHIBITIONS 

2017 

Spectrum Abstract group show. CIRCA Gallery, Johannesburg.

2015  

Surface Detail Solo show of drawings and oil paintings at the Origins Centre Museum at the University of the Witwatersrand, JHB

2013 

Solo show of drawings and monoprints at Blank Gallery in Cape Town

2012 

Solo show of 90 monoprints begun at the Nirox residency 

Solo show Horizon at Gallery AOP, 44 Stanley Avenue

2010 

Solo show …and to that sea return at Gallery AOP, 44 Stanley Avenue

2009 

MA show at the Substation Gallery, University of the Witwatersrand