James Peniston Sculpture, commissioned works in bronze

About the sculptor

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James Peniston works a plaster sculpture in his West Philadelphia studio

James Peniston lives and works in West Philadelphia. His commissioned sculptures range from the tabletop (a 15-inch depiction of a favorite grandchild) to garden-sized pieces ("Water"), to the monumental (the 7-foot figure of genetics pioneer Gregor Mendel at Villanova University).

James did the preliminary full-scale sculpting of Ray Kaskey's eagles for the Atlantic and Pacific pavilions at the National World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C. He also helped design the stainless steel armature that supports the baldacchino — the eagles and nearby wreaths.

He has taught sculpture at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and at Sidwell Friends School. He has lectured on public art and community identity at LaSalle University.