Rod Penner

Born: 1965, Vancouver, Canada 

Rod Penner paints the abandoned and forgotten landscapes of rural southwestern American towns, mainly Texan ones. His work brings us on an introspective journey into the past and the passing of time. He portrays moments completely frozen in time by highlighting a variety of textures such as the rust on poles, the crumbling asphalt, the light reflecting on the grass. With warm undertones and a cinematic feel, Penner explores contrasting themes such as abandonment and hope, insolation and nostalgia. 

Penner’s work has found a home in private and public collections, including the permanent collections of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, DC; the Philbrook Museum of Art, Tulsa; the Flint Institute of Arts in Michigan; and the Virlane Foundation in New Orleans. His paintings have been featured in many publications and he has been the subject of three monographs: Rod Penner: Small Town Meditations in 2010, Rod Penner in 2017 and Rod Penner: Paintings, 1987–2022 in 2023. 

‘When I first moved to Texas, I was struck by the strong clarity of light and intense heat, which was a sharp contrast to the cooler rainy weather I had grown up with in British Columbia. I explore and photograph small towns, mostly in winter, when the stark expansive Texan landscape is transformed by the warm light and long cool shadows.’ – Rod Penner 

For purchase enquiries and costs, or to arrange a viewing, please contact our team at info@plusonegallery.com or phone the gallery directly on 020 7730 7656.