Penina holds a bachelor’s degree in fine arts with a concentration in photography from The University of Pennsylvania. After graduating she studied woodturning with a Philadelphia-based woodworker, took a woodworking class at Penland, and attended a three-month intensive program at the Center for Furniture Craftsmanship. Recently, she began designing and building commissioned pieces. Through commisioned work, she has been able to expand her technical aptitude and artistic aesthetic.
StatementI view furniture as functional art and am inspired by the ways one can push the boundaries of sculpture and function. I seek to explore how to walk the tightrope of balancing form and function without compromising either.
I consider how elements like light and texture inform how one engages with a piece of furniture. I want to pursue how a piece functions in the space for which it’s designed. I seek to investigate how subtle changes in design yield different results.
My passion for confronting challenges informs my work. My recreational pursuits, like rock climbing, are laden with a love for problem solving. I gravitate towards challenges and bring this passionate enthusiasm to design.
There’s an aesthetic relevance to my love of climbing tied to my designs. Our creative inspirations are found in everything we encounter. Sometimes we’re aware of the origins of our inspirations and other times they take a more subconscious form. I’m often struck by the beauty of a subtle curve on a rock as I climb. Other times or overcome by the beauty at a summit. Engaging with nature in such a personal and intimate way informs and inspires my approach to design.
