Penelope Anstruther

Born: Chichester, West Sussex U.K. — 1992 / Living: Oakland, CA

Interview by Speciwomen in Speciwomen Issue 1: First Interviews — Fall 2019

Speciwomen: Who are you?

Penelope Anstruther: I was born in England but always had a very strong wanderlust, which has driven me to study Art all over the world: London; Florence, Italy; Osaka, Japan and now in San Francisco. I think being brought up in a multicultural household (my mother is Thai and my father’s English) really encouraged my hunger for travel. As a child we went back to Thailand to visit my family every year, so I have a strong sense not only of my cultural heritage but also of our cultural differences. All of which has had a great influence on my work.

S: How did you first get into art?

PA: I have always wanted to be an artist! Even from an extremely early age that’s what I wanted to be. I loved to read and write stories and draw the illustrations for them. My father is a passionate art lover and he used to take me up to London every few weeks to look at exhibitions. It was enthralling. I used to go with my little sketchpad and try and copy the masters, as I still do when I get the chance. Funny how often such a simple looking drawing is actually very complex.

S: What is the purpose of your work?

PA: Initially I make work for myself. It’s cathartic, I would go crazy if I didn’t do it. Although most of my art is very personal I try to make it so that the viewer can interpret what they see, and put their own spin on it. That’s when it gets interesting, when ideas merge. If the piece is very abstract I try to guide with the title. I feel like there are hidden patterns and cycles that I must decode and match up in order to understand myself, and therefore everything around me, and art is my tool to do that.

S: What materials do you use?

PA: Things that are around me. I believe strongly in the power of the object, and the longer I have been with an object, the stronger its emotional potency. Where I found the material, what emotional state I was in when I found it, and who I was with plays an enormous role when it comes to its use in my work. I also like to give a second life to discarded objects. Elevating and appreciating the over-looked is an important theme (sometimes it’s those tiny ethereal hints of emotion that get brought forward and are the strongest). I like to use either things weathered by their surroundings or natural items: lichen, chalk, rocks, seashore debris, wax, rusted things, scraps of cloth, wood, paper that I make... really I could make a very long list. I am a hoarder of art materials.

S: Who inspires you?

PA: Wow, that’s pretty hard to answer because I have a lot of inspirational characters in my life! All my closest friends are artists and are driving me and inspiring me every day. I work as an assistant for three artists (separately, they’re not a collective) who are constantly influencing me. I teach art classes for kids sometimes and honestly their drawings are always amazing! Obviously my family is very important to me — my brother is a musician in London and is always up to something good.

As for big names I have a few constant go-tos: Joseph Cornell, Louise Bourgeois, Grayson Perry, Cy Twombly, Joseph Beuys ... I could go on and on... oh! And of course T. S. Eliot whose poetry I absolutely adore.

S: Where do you prefer to work?

PA: This year I made the leap from tiny room/studio in my apartment to an actual studio space separate from where I live. It has made a world of difference. I share it with two sweet guys: a comic artist and an illustrator. It makes for a really friendly and communal working environment. It’s total heaven and I feel super blessed to have a space solely dedicated to my art practice.

S: Who is your work for?

PA: Anyone that wants to see it! I honestly hope there’s a little bit of something for everyone in there.

S: Has your art ever been on display?

PA: Yes! I've been lucky to have had several solo shows in the past 2 years for which I made site specific installations. This year I was also commissioned to make two private site specific installations which are permanently installed in their houses!

S: What are your favorite places in your city or around the world?

PA: I like to wander around Chinatown. It’s my absolute favorite place to photograph. Living in Florence was where my real art training and love of photography began so I will always have dear memories there. It’s really one of the most beautiful cities... but, even though I don’t live there right now, London is my favorite city in the world — just in terms of free art galleries it’s unbeatable — and honestly, there’s no place like home when you’re away.

S: How has the female role played into your life?

PA: I’d say it’s just about affected every aspect of my existence! Obviously my art is from the viewpoint of a female, but ultimately I like to just think about myself as a human. We're all just trying to get through it, you know?