Jeanine Pennell
New Jersey

Stoneware paperclay
Functional
10"w x 4.5"l x 8"h

About the Artist
I work in kiln fired paperclay creating quirky, whimsical figures that draw you in to deeply human stories.  My pieces are poised between the safety of whimsy and the darkness of the things that we find hard to say.  Faces as well as objects convey vulnerability and evoke story lines.
Each figure is hand-sculpted and hand painted in underglaze washes, typically fired multiple times to create a gritty illustrative quality.

Artist Statement
I work in kiln-fired paperclay creating quirky, whimsical figures that draw you in to deeply human stories. My pieces are poised between the safety of whimsy and the darkness of the things we find hard to say. Faces, as well as objects, convey vulnerability and evoke story lines. Each figure is hand sculpted and hand-painted in underglaze washes, typically fired multiple times to create a gritty, illustrative quality.
My sculpture is influenced by my love of clay animation, doll house miniatures, and a pull to create your own world. As a child, I spent hours playing with little figures and building miniature cities - immersed in these tiny pretend worlds. I surrounded myself with illustration books from the library and relished the Daily News cartoons with my family each Sunday. The mystery of found objects, the worn and weathered things that appear in my work - like hand­ me-downs from my siblings - bring ease and comfort. Masks speak to explorations of vulnerability and pretending to be someone you are not, both as a child and an adult.
My work is like a found object or secret doorway inviting you into an entire world.

*Teapots that are purchased will remain on display in the gallery for the duration of the exhibition, through September 14, 2026. 
After the show closes, teapots will be carefully packed and shipped by September 28, or they may be picked up at the gallery.