Inspired by heavy silhouetted white uniforms, unwieldy chef’s hats and the frantic energy on both sides of a restaurant’s pass, Jack Penny’s recent work captures the characters and the chaos that can be found within hospitality. Rarely starting out with a plan, Penny relies on his imagination to see how each piece will evolve – drawing on memories that range from waiters deftly dancing around tables in Paris to his humble pot-washing past.

His loose, spontaneously lines conjure up garish scenes – artfully playing with the tensions between those serving and eating, while also finding the fun in every situation. Determined not to take himself too seriously, Penny felt ‘reinvigorated’ when he began to inject humour into his work, providing an avenue for him to approach subject matters with a level of authenticity. ‘We live in a time of utter ridiculousness,’ says Penny with a smile, ‘I’d find it impossible to be an artist in this day and age without laughing at myself.’

While Penny uses restaurants as a vessel to represent an implosion of pressure, his playful work isn’t so much about food, but a commentary of the world we live in. Penny celebrates the often-overlooked contributions of kitchen staff with profound respect, using his slapstick style to both honour and poke fun at our society. There’s a darker edge too – gluttony and the constant desperation to fill a void within us are common themes throughout his work.

In a world where art often whispers, Penny chooses to shout in a way that is unapologetically bold. His work thrives on the absurdity of it all. It’s not subtle, ‘But that’s the whole point. It’s not supposed to be.’