For the third episode of the artist encounters podcast I’m sharing my conversation with painter Penny Monogiou. We recorded it in the summer of 2023 at her studio in Hamburg, Germany.

Originally from Cyprus, where she was born in 1989, Penny Monogiou moved to Athens in 2007 to study painting at the Athens School of Fine Arts with Professor Jannis Psychopedis. Next to her painting studies, she also engaged in traditional icon painting which until today influences her painting practice. After graduating, Monogiou moved to Hamburg in 2013 where she is currently living and working.

With her paintings, Monogiou critically examines beauty ideals and stereotypes by depicting people who do not conform to Western society’s standards of beauty. Disproportionately large ears and noses sit alongside bulging lips and crooked teeth — through her bold expression, Monogiou celebrates individuality and imperfection.

Check out Pennys website (https://pennymonogiou.art/) and her Instagram at @ pennymonogiou to get all the info about her current work and upcoming exhibitions.

Follow artist encounters on Substack and Instagram at @ artist_encounters to read more about Penny’s work, her individual recommendations for residencies and exhibits, and to get a look at her paintings.

Happy listening!