Dusk & Rubies: INTERVIEW: JEREMY PENN ON HIS LATEST COLLECTION LE SEDUCTION DE GLAMOUR

We caught up with Jeremy Penn at The Montauk Beach House for the reception to Jeremy Penn's latest collection Le Seduction de Glamour. The collection features special portraits of New York's famed fashion icons such as Anna Wintour, Gigi Hadid and new pieces from his iconic #hotlips collection starring Brigitte Bardot. Jeremy not only has a brilliant artistic hand, but also a brilliant artistic mind.

To read what he has to say about the Pop Art genre, his own work, and what he really wants you to know about him and his work read on as we delved into the 'nitty gritty' with this interview, and Jeremy held nothing back!

You know the old adage, "the eyes are the window to the soul", is this reflected in your art? Otherwise, why draw emphasis to the eyes in your work?

Jeremy: It is very much reflected in my portrait work. I am fascinated with something called “The Gaze.” The gaze, as it relates to art, is that moment when you lock eyes with the subject. In this moment, many things happen in the mind that continue to confuse scientists, art experts, and even psychologists. For a moment, there is a power struggle that can leave you feeling vulnerable and slightly violated. Yet, the feeling is addicting. People love to come back and lock eyes with the subject.

What are you hoping those experiencing your art can see?

I adore the idea of engaging the viewer because I believe so much can be learned about oneself when you really explore why a painting is making you feel a certain way.Just look at Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa or Manet’s Olympia. Their eyes appear to follow you, penetrating your soul, knowing all your deepest secrets.

Your work has been compared to the likes of Andy Warhol. Would you consider your work Pop Art? And, if so does it conform to the same school of thought?

Jeremy: I hear the Warhol thing a lot. Andy was unique and anyone who tries to emulate what he did is labeling themselves as someone who isn’t. Andy was a genius in his ability to see the direction we were headed towards as a society. Apart from the genius part, I would say that the biggest comparison to Warhol and myself is our shared interest in understanding the psychological elements in popular culture and where we are evolving to.

That being said, are you ever afraid that Pop Art will become redundant, or is Pop Art always going to be a reflection of the times and constantly morphing?

Jeremy: For Pop Art to be real Pop Art, it needs to constantly change yet represent a moment in time. The problem I see is that pop art has become associated with a certain aesthetic opposed to a topical narrative. Pop art should be less about the style and more about the narrative.

Why the emphasis on celebrities and the realm of celebrity culture? What fascinates you about this medium? This subject?

Jeremy: Our culture has become celebrity obsessed. I think it has something to do with the accessibility to fame. With the popularity of social media and reality television, almost anyone can taste the forbidden fruit of fame. The cultural movement is what fascinates me. My painting subjects usually aren't modern days celebrities, unless I am commissioned by the celebrity themselves.

The celebrities I paint represent a moment in time that inspires me. For example, I have been painting Brigitte Bardot for years because she represents a moment in time where women in Europe were emerging in movies with this sexual power while at the same time, in America, women were fitting into this conservative role. After WW2, soldiers were coming home and taking back the jobs that women occupied while the men fought abroad resulting in a very conservative 1950’s. The constant narrative in my work is the power of women and its psychological threat to the male ego. I believe the influence of women like Bardot, helped inspire women to discover their own power and exploit the fragility of men.

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How do you make sure your vision, your art is seen and noticed in a world so saturated by celebrity and celebrity culture?

Jeremy: This one is tricky and there isn’t really a specific formula for exposure. Social media is an extremely valuable tool and has opened doors for artists to gain exposure on a global scale. I always tell artists to get the work out of the studio and get it out in any way possible. One thing that has helped me are a few of my celebrity collectors posting my paintings on their social media accounts.

What are you hoping those experiencing your art feel, see, understand about your work? What do you want people to do with your art?

Jeremy: I believe art to be the most powerful tool in understanding more about yourself. I want to engage the viewer with my work, but most of all, I want them to have their own journey. The way art makes you feel can say some much about who you are.