Portraits and drawings
Portraits and drawings
Embedded Files
On the eve of 1977, Penelope moved from her home in the Pacific Northwest to California to attend the San Francisco Art Institute.
Within six months her career in visual arts was side-tracked by the formation of the critically acclaimed proto-punk band the Avengers. Since then she has performed over 1000 shows with the Avengers and her solo bands throughout the USA and Europe. Venues include CBGB’s, The Whiskey a Go Go, Winterland Ballroom, as well as LA MOCA and the De Young Museum in SF. She has released 13 albums with independent and major labels. Her musical career is well-documented in publications from Newsweek to Slash.
Despite this detour, visual art has always been anchored in her mind and her return to two-dimensional imagery presents a seasoned world view.
Penelope Houston
b. 1957, Los Angeles.
Lives and works in Oakland, CA
penelope@penelope.net
penelopehouston.com
Selected Exhibitions
2025
When We were Young, Nielsen Arts, Berkeley. (solo show)
2024
510 All Stars, Nielsen Arts, Berkeley. (group show)
More Than a Face, 120710, Berkeley. (group show)
Sound and Vision, Madkat Gallery, Rancho Mirage. (group show)
2023
The Accused, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco. (solo show)
2017
The 5th Annual Coaster Show, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, juried, Los Angeles.
Muzzlers (the Accused), La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles. (two person show)
Backstage at Hinckley’s, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco. (installation and performance)
Muzzlers and Big Heads, Land and Sea, Oakland CA. (solo show)
2012
Put a Librarian On It, San Francisco Public Library, San Francisco. (solo show)
Wall of Sound, Steven Wolf Fine Arts, San Francisco.
Art of a Warrior Tribe, Gildar Gallery, Denver. Curated by Adam Lerner, MCA Denver
Under The Big Black Sun, LA MOCA, Los Angeles. (performance)
2011 24th Annual Stillwell Student Exhibition, Stillwell Gallery SFSU, juried, San Francisco (awarded Best in Printmaking)
2003 The Rawk Show, Gallery Lombardi, Austin, TX.
Guest Lectures
2017 Artist Lecture, La Luz de Jesus Gallery, Los Angeles.
2012 Artist Conversation Series, MCA Denver, Denver.
2003 Puro Punk, with Julio Cesar Morales, California College of Art, San Francisco.
2002 Punk 101, California College of Art, San Francisco.
2002 Graduate student mentor, California College of Art, San Francisco.
Education
2012 Bachelor of Arts (magna cum laude) Studio Art
San Francisco State University.
1977-78 Painting San Francisco Art Institute.
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