Portrait of UK artist Lee Eelus in his Brighton studio

It was the late 1980s when Lee Pennington's art career started in a primary school playground in northern England. When he was around 10 years old, he sold a small edition of hand-drawn posters of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to his friends for 10 pence each. Although the sale was not a huge success, it allowed him to purchase an additional chocolate bar or two on his way home.

Fast forward to the early 2000s, Lee moved to London and discovered the world of street art. He started experimenting with stencil-based works and went by the name Eelus. Artists Banksy and Eine saw Lee's work around the East End before inviting him to release his first screenprint edition through the renowned print studio Pictures on Walls.

The picture of a young girl walking a Star Wars At-At sold out quickly, establishing Eelus as a favourite amongst collectors. The image has since become iconic and is considered a defining piece of the emerging art movement.

Eelus has since painted and exhibited worldwide alongside key figures within the movement. The desirability of his work is evident in the success of his solo exhibitions and sell-out print editions.

Through bold and colourful imagery Eelus tells strange and playful tales that often explore the relationship between light and dark and explore the hidden magic in the world. His creative process serves as a therapeutic outlet, helping him find balance and meaning through the weird and wonderful visual language that he applies to prints, paintings and murals.

He currently lives in Brighton, UK.

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023

Disorder – March 30 Jealous Gallery – London, UK.

2017

Dance Boldly Through The Storm – Lawrence Alkin Gallery – London, UK.

2016

• The Dark Side of the RainbowSpoke 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
2024

• Cherry blossom Tour - MDP Gallery, Japan (Apr)

2023

• Guilty by Association - Baltic, Gateshead, UK (Nov)

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 NOWSaatchi Gallery, London, UK (Aug 19 – Sep 9)
London Original Print WeekJealous 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 NYCOlivia 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 GalleryLondon, UK
LAX/MSYRed Truck Gallery, curated by Thinkspace GalleryNew Orleans, LA, USA
Spotlight: StencilHashimoto Contemporary – NYC, USA
Affordable Art Fair NYCOlivia Connelly – NYC, USA

2018

SCOPE Art Show – Thinkspace Gallery – Miami, USA
• LAX/PDXAntler Gallery, curated by Thinkspace Gallery – Portland, OR, USA
Affordable Art FairOlivia Connelly – London, UK
• Semi-SkimmedJealous Gallery, London, UK

2017

Upfest – (Headline Artist) – Bristol, UK

2016

SCOPE Art ShowSpoke Gallery – Miami, USA
• Norte South – London Westbank Gallery – Ibiza
Moniker Art FairArt on a Postcard – London, UK
• The SaintUnit 44 – Newcastle, UK

2015

Affordable Art FairOlivia Connelly – London, UK
Moniker Art FairArt on a Postcard – London, UK
• Mix Summer Show – Lawrence Alkin Gallery – London, UK
• Your Kid Can’t Do ThisAmbush Gallery, Sydney, Australia
Geeks for Piece – Moniker Warehouse, San Diego, USA
• Cut It Out – Urban Nation, Berlin, Germany

2014

• Rule of ThreeColab Gallery, Germany
Moniker Art FairHorn of Plenty Gallery – London, UK
• The Subtle Art of Pop Culture –  Gallery 1988, Los Angeles, USA

2013

Crazy for Cult 7 – Gallery 1988, New York, USA
Into the Dark - 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

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

• 12 Days of Christmas – The Old Police Station, Bristol, UK
• The Grind – Foundation One Gallery, Atlanta, USA
The Vader Project – 9 venues worldwide

2006

• Santa’s Ghetto – Pictures on Walls – London, UK
Nuart – Stavanger, Norway

Selected Press & Collaborations