Meet Fawn Penn
Fawn Penn is a sculptor living and working in Chicago. Their work focuses on surface technique across wheel thrown and hand built forms, depicting snake-oil advertisement inspired illustrations. Penn holds a BFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (2020) and is the co-founder of The Digs Chicago, a non-profit ceramics studio, and Old Friends, a contemporary art gallery. Penn was listed on the Forbes 30 Under 30 Local List (2023) and is a recipient of the Center for Craft Windgate-Lamar Fellowship (2020). Penn’s first solo show Remedy for the Relief of Human Suffering was staged at VSG Contemporary in Chicago (2025). They have exhibited at Patient Info; Ingrown; Bridgeport Art Center; and Roots and Culture, in Chicago.
How would you describe your making practice in the studio?
LB: I love morning studio time — natural light makes my brain happy — so I like to come in with a coffee in hand. A typical session for me includes time for play or exploration, and time for moving projects with a deadline along. I'll prep any clay or materials that I need to use at the very beginning, and structure what I work on when based on drying time.
Your pieces are so fun, colorful, and distinctive — where do you find inspiration for your themes and forms?
LB: I've always leaned into silly and colorful when it comes to sculpture. And a lot of times, I'll just have a silly idea and go for it. But I think as with any creative endeavor part of the process is recognizing when you're having a fleeting inspiration and capturing it. I love all of the chemistry and precision that comes with ceramics, but I also really love the ability to just literally make anything with it. In terms of inspiration, I think I've always been drawn to more surreal, bright things, but can credit "Pee-wee's Playhouse" and other weirdo 80's things for kids for nurturing it. When some of my favorite work comes together I will literally LOL at it because, yep you really can dream up whatever and make it appear before you.
You’ve been a Pay 2 Clay member since October 2023 — how has that experience shaped your practice?
LB: I love The Digs! It's been really great having a studio so close to home. Plus the energy is great here from the windows to the plants, people, and programming. There's such a good range of experiences — from day pass to professional — and everyone is open in sharing experiences and expertise and inspiration. Being in a studio that's more practice-based is great too, there's always space to work even when there are classes, and everyone is always working on cool things. I'm always inspired by what everyone is doing, even if it's the furthest thing from my own work.
What are you working on right now?
Tell us about current pieces, experiments, or ideas you’re developing.
LB: I'm currently still in my pasta era — I've done a few prototypes for spaghetti and meatball candle holders, and some shrimp-stemmed goblets, and have some further plans here. Both need a little more work structurally and in glaze choice so you'll see them around again. I'm also developing some other ideas that I hope to bring to life in 2026 including a return to some form-based coil work, a lighting project, and some other secrets.
