Meet Tracy Penn

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Tracy Penn a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Tracy, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.

I spent much of my life on the periphery of art, facilitating its creation and consumption, never thinking I could make my own work or share my own voice.

But then my life took a series of difficult twists and turns and I came to the realization that I had to create a path that would allow me to live as my authentic self. I took a deep breath, made myself completely vulnerable, and committed to exploring my personal creativity. I was 53 years old at this time, a time when most of my contemporaries were settling into their careers.

I threw myself into learning about encaustic painting, a medium I liked but knew very little about. I took a lot of classes, learned from established artists, and experimented. a lot. Creating my own work allowed me to grow as an individual, to make mistakes, and to embrace chance. It freed me to be imperfect and to trust my instincts.

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I create environmentally conscious art with encaustic (beeswax based paint) and repurposed materials. My work spans multiple mediums, from painting, to sculpture, to works on paper.

I believe that art has the power to spark conversations and drive change, and I am dedicated to using my talent and passion to raise awareness about environmental issues. In addition, I create work that rejoices in the beauty of nature and brings attention to the planet we are working to save.

My latest project is “Ubiquitous,” an installation featuring over 200 microplastics sculptures, which are created with wire mesh and covered in encaustic paint and then textured with discarded plastic. In order to convey the omnipresence of microplastics, the sculptures are suspended from the ceiling, grouped in piles on the floor, and hung on walls. The piece was created to bring attention to the proliferation of microplastics in the human body. The show debuted this past summer in NH and is scheduled to be shown in another gallery. I’m hoping to show it at additional venues around the country to help spread the word about the dangers of microplastics.

I continuously want to push myself to explore new mediums and to continue to be invigorated by my practice . My next project is to create a series of works on paper which highlight the beauty of the natural world through Abstraction. I just returned from a three-day intensive workshop with a gifted artist who is a pioneer in encaustic monotype. I believe to progress my art practice, I must continuously learn, explore, and try new things.

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

Three Qualities
– Fearlessness
– Continuing to Learn
– Finding Community

As women, I think we can be plagued with self doubt and imposter syndrome. I believe the only way to counteract this is to learn from others, continuously experiment, and to learn from my own mistakes. I have found by presenting myself in an open way, I have met so many generous people who are willing to share their knowledge with me. There have also been some haters. I have tried very hard to not let people in, who are unkind and who do not want to see me succeed.

Making art is a solitary process, so for me it has been very important to be part of a community of artists. I joined Arts Gowanus in 2017 when I first started making art. ( Arts Gowanus is a not-for-profit organization that nurtures a diverse, inclusive creative community that welcomes all artists in the neighborhood. Based in the Gowanus neighborhood of Brooklyn, NY.) I began by volunteering for one of their events and over time I have made wonderful friends, have been afforded many opportunities to show my work, have been given the opportunity to curate shows, have become a member of their board, and now serve as board chair.

What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?

When I am feeling overwhelmed I reach out to a core group of fellow artists who help lift me up. We share ideas, provide each other critical feedback, and help each other find solutions to challenges. This give and take is so critical when your work is a solitary pursuit and the measures of success are not concrete.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.tracypennart.com
• Instagram: tracy@tracypennart.com

Image Credits

Andrey Kozakov (photo 1)
Brook Hedge (photo 2 and 4)
Jane Huntington (photo 3 and 8)
Randi Rosenblum Photo (photo 7)