Lisa Penny lives and works in London.
Penny’s practice reverses the traditional male gaze, examining contemporary masculinity, desire, and the ways in which the male body is constructed, performed, and viewed. Her paintings feature male figures within natural landscapes and urban wastelands, placing the body within environments that can feel both seductive and unsettling. Through these settings, the male figure is explored in relation to hedonism, physicality, and the pursuit of the ‘body beautiful’. Desire operates as a central force within the work, influencing both the construction of the male body and the act of looking. By shifting the position of the gaze, Penny creates images that question ideas of power, attraction, and self-presentation. Predominantly a painter, she also explores these ideas through reliefs, sculpture, and textiles, allowing her investigations into the body and desire to extend beyond the painted surface.
Penny studied at Leeds Metropolitan University and Byam Shaw School of Art (CSM). Lisa has undertaken international residencies in North America, including Eastside International (ESXLA), Los Angeles (2015), and a residency in New Mexico supported by Arts Council England (ACE). Her recent exhibitions include Canal Boat Contemporary London, a two-person presentation at Existers, London, Panel Discussion, a group exhibition, and Dancing About Architecture, a Hypha Studios project.