It all started with a bottle of Coke. Georgia painter Steve Penley depicted the curvaceous silhouette in his typical bold and colorful style for the office of a friend who worked at The Coca-Cola Company. The small picture blossomed into several other commissions over the years, most recently a 48-foot mural on display at the World of Coca-Cola. The painting took only three weeks to complete and was transported from the artist’s Carrollton, Ga., home in rather humble fashion.
Artist Steve Penley has found his niche depicting American icons and other pop culture themes.“We just threw it in the back of a U-Haul,” shrugs Penley. “They’re not very fragile – we bang them around all over the place.”
His breezy attitude belies the value of his works of art, which are hotly sought after by celebrities and in-the-know art enthusiasts. He even has a strong political following, asked by President George W. Bush in 2004 to design the poster for the G-8 Summit. A 16-foot portrait of George Washington crossing the Delaware hangs in the office of the House Majority Whip’s office, and a recent fundraiser on Glenn Beck fetched half a million dollars for The Wounded Warrior Project. While the vast majority of artists pride themselves on bucking convention, Penley has found his niche depicting American icons and other pop culture themes.
“I actually am the counter-culture these days,” he says with a laugh. “So many artists are so cynical that the only way to go against popular culture is to be pro-America.”
Much like the Coke bottle that started it all, Penley has ties to our fair city, living in Chattanooga until age 5. In addition to paintings, the artist offers prints, posters, T-shirts and plans to publish his fifth book later this year. “I want to create artwork that reaches real people, not just the select few that will make it into a gallery or museum,” he explains. “I strive to create art that relates to the real world.”