Vibrant and energetic are words that only begin to describe the artwork of Jill and Robert Pankey, a duo of married artists who, though they may not have always done it professionally, have been painting and creating art all of their lives.
Having previously worked as an art teacher, a forensic artist, an ad designer, as well as worked for commissions, Jill decided to pursue art full time after going back to school to study it, though she maintains that formal study was not what taught her to become a better artist. Robert, a former biochemistry professor at Texas State University, used art as both a creative outlet and a way to put himself through graduate school when he was younger. It was his wife’s success in art however, that motivated and influenced him into pursuing art full time, and not just of the visual sort. Robert is also the author of Short Stories From Texas and Beyond, a book which is the subject of our upcoming Author Talk at the end of the month.
When viewing their paintings, the viewer is struck by their ability to render the simple and ordinary as whimsical and powerful. Jill’s artwork pushes the limits of pattern and color, its subject matter conveying the majesty of the female form in ways that are not often done in the mainstream. Her paintings add a new depth to how we think of female empowerment by celebrating the beauty of aging and the excitement of friendship, whether it be through dancing or the quieter moments of life. The vivacity of her choice of color is complemented by the frenzied, dynamic movement of her subjects, creating artwork that emphasizes the passion and laughter of life.
Similarly, Robert’s artwork captures an energy of a different kind as he explores the nobility and wonder of wildlife. His use of exaggerated color and brush strokes highlight qualities of nature and color that may normally go unnoticed by the human eye, such as the way the fur of a bear or a raven can be so black it looks blue, or how a bobcat’s eyes seem to glitter as it crouches and crawls. His paintings celebrate the power of the wild even in its most inconspicuous moments as he brings even the smallest of creatures to life on the canvas.
We here are the SEAD Gallery are honored to be hosting Jill and Robert Pankey with their new exhibit Charismatic Colors, whose opening reception will be on the 16th of August from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. We invite you to join us and enjoy an evening of hors-d’oeuvres, fine wine, an opportunity to speak with the artists themselves, as well as the chance to win a framed piece from the exhibit. Guests will be able to purchase raffle tickets throughout the evening, the proceeds of which will go to benefit the Pink Alliance Brazos Valley, an organization whose mission is to serve as an advocate for the breast health and cancer support in the Brazos Valley. Through the provision of reliable and informative resources, individual and group support, as well as access to medical treatments that may be out of reach to those with limited resources, the people of Pink Alliance Brazos Valley serve as valued members of our community, ones that the Pankeys and we at the SEAD Gallery wish to celebrate. A representative from this wonderful organization will be in attendance and able to provide more information about their involvement in our community.
We encourage you to join us in this community event as we offer the Pankeys a warm and profound welcome. For more information on their exhibit’s opening reception, please click here.
