Lee Pennington’s art career began in the north of England in the late 80’s. At around 10 years old he peddled a small edition of hand-drawn Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles posters to his friends in the school playground for 10p each. The sale was a marginal success, allowing him to buy an extra chocolate bar or two on his way home.
The early 00’s and a move to London opens Lee’s eyes to the emerging world of street art. He begins to experiment with his own stencil based works, painting under the moniker of Eelus. It’s after Banksy encounters the work on the streets of the East End that everything changes for Lee, and after a 17 year hiatus he releases his second edition through the legendary print studio Pictures on Walls.
The image — a young girl taking a Star Wars At-At for a walk — sells out in record time, securing Eelus’s place as a favourite amongst collectors. The image itself becomes iconic, helping define the early days of a rising art movement.
After repeat success with more sell-out editions, Eelus receives another invite from Banksy, this time to paint at his now infamous ‘Cans Festival – A Street Party of Stencil Art’ in Waterloo, London. His mural and stencils becoming a highlight for many of the thousands of people who visited the landmark outdoor exhibition.
Eelus has since painted and exhibited worldwide alongside key figures within the movement. The desirability of his work evident in the success of his solo exhibitions and sell-out print editions.
Combining seemingly disparate elements from a wide range of found imagery, Eelus’s strange and colourful visual language is an insight into his neurodivergent thinking. His studio practice becoming a form of therapy as he searches for a sense of balance through his use of colour and composition that he applies to prints, paintings, murals and 3D work.
He currently lives in Brighton, UK
Solo Exhibitions
2023
April – Jealous Gallery – London, UK.
2017
• October – Dance Boldly Through The Storm – Lawrence Alkin Gallery – London, UK.
2016
• The Dark Side of the Rainbow – Spoke Gallery – San Francisco, USA
2013
• Horrorshow – Ink_d Gallery, Brighton, UK
2012
• Curious – Black Book Gallery, Denver, CO, USA
2010
• Paradise Lost – Brooklynite Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, USA
• The Colour Out Of Space – Blackall Studios, London, UK
2008
• Electrik Eel – Electrik Sheep Gallery, Newcastle, UK
Selected Group Exhibitions & Events
2022
• Through the Looking Glass – Paxton Glew Gallery, Brighton, UK (Oct)
• The Modest Magnificent – Well Hung Gallery
2021
• Black Magic – Paxton Glew Gallery, Brighton, UK (Oct 22 – Nov 21)
• RIGHT HERE RIGHT NOW – Saatchi Gallery, London, UK (Aug 19 – Sep 9)
• Art Car Boot Fair – Jealous Gallery, London, UK (May)
• London Original Print Week – Jealous Gallery, London, UK (May 1 – 8)
• 8 Year Anniversary Group Show – Vertical Gallery, Chicago, USA (Mar)
2020
• Hidden In Plain Sight – Unit 44 – Newcastle, UK (Dec)
• Vitamin Sea – PaxtonGlew – Brighton, UK (Apr 24 – May 23)
• 7 Year Anniversary Group Show – Vertical Gallery, Chicago, USA (Apr 4 – 25)
• OURTYPES – ‘UP’ Group Show – Jealous Gallery, London, UK (Mar 12 – 22)
• Affordable Art Fair NYC – Olivia Connelly – NYC, USA (Mar 25 – 29)
2019
• New Beginnings – Art Republic Gallery – Brighton, UK
• Urban Miniatures – PaxtonGlew – Brighton, UK
• CONTEXT Art Miami – Spoke Art Gallery – Miami, USA
• SCOPE Art Show – Thinkspace Gallery– Miami, USA
• Moniker Art Fair – Installation piece in conjunction with Urban Nation – London, UK
• Moniker Art Fair – with Thinkspace Gallery – London, UK
• LAX/MSY – Red Truck Gallery, curated by Thinkspace Gallery – New Orleans, LA, USA
• Spotlight: Stencil – Hashimoto Contemporary – NYC, USA
• Affordable Art Fair NYC – Olivia Connelly – NYC, USA
2018
• The Xmas Notivaty – Stella Dore Gallery – St Leonards, UK
• SCOPE Art Show – Thinkspace Gallery – Miami, USA
• LAX/PDX – Antler Gallery, curated by Thinkspace Gallery – Portland, OR, USA
• Affordable Art Fair – Olivia Connelly – London, UK
• Semi-Skimmed – Jealous Gallery, London, UK
2017
• Upfest – (Headline Artist) – Bristol, UK
2016
• SCOPE Art Show – Spoke Gallery – Miami, USA
• Norte South – London Westbank Gallery – Ibiza
• Moniker Art Fair – Art on a Postcard – London, UK
• Dubai Walls – Dubai, UAE
• The Saint – Unit 44 – Newcastle, UK
2015
• Affordable Art Fair – Olivia Connelly – London, UK
• Moniker Art Fair – Art on a Postcard – London, UK
• Mix Summer Show – Lawrence Alkin Gallery – London, UK
• Your Kid Can’t Do This – Ambush Gallery, Sydney, Australia
• Geeks for Piece – Moniker Warehouse, San Diego, USA
• Cut It Out – Urban Nation, Berlin, Germany
2014
• Rule of Three – Colab Gallery, Germany
• Moniker Art Fair – Horn of Plenty Gallery – London, UK
• LA Contraband 2 – Black Apple Art, Los Angeles, USA
•b The Subtle Art of Pop Culture – Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, USA
2013
• Crazy for Cult 7 – Gallery 1988, New York, USA
•LA Contraband – Black Apple Art, Los Angeles, USA
• Into the Dark – Victoria Tunnels with Unit-44 Gallery, Newcastle, UK
• The Official Bad Robot Art Experience – Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, USA
• Write & Repeat – Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
2010
• Never Judge…? – Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
• Temwa Art for Africa – Dreambagjaguarshoes, London, UK
• No Time Like The Present – Lacoste Flagship store, London, UK
• Wide Open Walls – An Art Safari – Curator and participant, Kubuneh Village, The Gambia
• L’Art Urbain – Addict Galerie. Paris, France
2009
• Green Day – Art of Rock – Stolen Space Gallery, London, UK
• MuTate – One Foot in the Grove – ‘Under the Westway’, London, UK
2008
• Stella Dore Group Show – Sebastian Guinness Gallery, Dublin, Ireland
• Cans Festival – Leak St Tunnel, Waterloo, London
2007
• Cement Gallery Launch – Ada St Gallery, London, UK
• 12 Days of Christmas – The Old Police Station, Bristol, UK
• The Grind – Foundation One Gallery, Atlanta, USA
• Planet Patrol – Cargo, London, UK
• The Vader Project – 9 venues worldwide
2006
• Santa’s Ghetto – Pictures on Walls – London, UK
• Nuart – Stavanger, Norway
Press, Projects & Collaborations
