The Ricardo Penalver Chronicle: (1937-1995) A Retrospection of an American Surrealist
Welcome to the Ricardo Penalver Chronicle, the official online retrospective of self-taught American surrealist Ricardo Penalver. His paintings weave together vivid colors, dreamlike symbolism, and a fearless spirit that turned a life of change into art that still moves people today. This retrospective brings his paintings and life story together, exploring the emotional intensity, surrealist imagination, and connection to social change that distinguish his work.
His lifelong partner, Alexa Bryson, curated this collection to keep his work alive and share it with new generations. It is an invitation to spend time with the art he created and the legacy he leaves behind; marvel at his paintings in the Gallery, read his remarkable Story, and bring home a treasured original from our Store or an affordable print or special gift from our Shop.
Ricardo Penalver, in his own words;
My Most of All Conflicts, Am I My Body?
Absolutely Not!
I've come to realize this with other facts, realities!
There is more!
Which is why I must alter my consciousness more and more ...
Which is why I shall, must, resolve this recent awareness!!!
Hooray!
Ricardo Penalver, 1991
Ricardo Penalver: Seated Man Dancing
a Petite Penalver
Microsoft's Accessible Technology Group
The Story Behind Seated Man Dancing
Seated Man Dancing expresses a turning point in Ricardo's life—a renewed sense of possibility through art. After a life-changing injury left him paralyzed, Ricardo transformed his personal challenges into creative expression. The painting gives voice to his resilience and determination as he faced profound physical and psychological obstacles.
That personal expression reached a wider audience when Microsoft’s Accessible Technology Group selected Seated Man Dancing to commemorate three occasions: the 10th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, President Clinton’s Digital Divide announcement in Flint, Michigan, and the 25th anniversary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
The painting was then licensed and produced as a Petite Penalver limited-edition lithograph and distributed worldwide as a holiday gift. Through that edition, new audiences encountered Ricardo’s Art and the message of dignity, perseverance, and possibility at the heart of Seated Man Dancing.
The Connection Ricardo Hoped to Make
Months before his death, Ricardo told Alexa that he wanted to call Christopher after the accident that left him paralyzed. Ricardo had hoped to offer Christopher a few words of encouragement, drawn from his own experience of rebuilding a life after paralysis.
Although they never had that conversation, five years after Ricardo’s death, Microsoft sent a Petite Penalver lithograph of Seated Man Dancing to the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation. There, the painting reached Dana and Christopher.
Dana and Chris contacted Alexa Bryson Art and said they were both “completely blown away” by the painting—by its artistry and its emotional impact.
"Hi, my husband is Christopher Reeve, better known to many as Superman, and we received a Petite Penalver in the mail from Microsoft. We were completely blown away by the painting; Seated Man Dancing. It just seems so perfect. Not only do we respond to the painting on a visceral level aesthetically, but we are tremendously moved by the meaning behind the form."
Dana and Christopher Reeve - 2000
Ricardo Penalver: Portrait of an Artist
ABILITY Magazine
ABILITY Magazine also received a Petite Penalver limited-edition lithograph as a holiday gift from Microsoft’s Accessible Technology Group. The gift brought together Ricardo Penalver’s artwork and Microsoft’s commitment to accessible, inclusive technology.
In early 2000, ABILITY Magazine devoted a full page of advertising space to a reproduction of Penalver’s Seated Man Dancing Petite Penalver lithograph, sharing his expressive artwork and its message with readers. The magazine also acknowledged Microsoft’s gift, writing:
“ABILITY Magazine wishes to thank Microsoft, for this thoughtful expression and share the artist’s message for all to experience ...”
Soon afterward, Microsoft contacted Alexa Bryson Art about the magazine’s publication of the artwork without permission. Alexa Bryson Art, however, welcomed the exposure and appreciated the opportunity for more readers to discover Penalver’s work.
Alexa Bryson Art thanked ABILITY Magazine, marking the beginning of a meaningful relationship. The following month, the magazine published Ricardo Penalver - Portrait of an Artist, a multi-page feature that shared his story and included photographs of his artwork. The feature gave readers a closer look at the artist behind the work, connecting his personal story with his artistic vision.
Ricardo Penalver:
The Story of His Owls and Pen’s Pals
From Studio Companions to a Calendar and Soft-Sculpted Creations
Best known for his painting Seated Man Dancing, Ricardo Penalver had long been fascinated by owls, and they appeared in his art well before his disability. In 1980, a year after the accident that left him with paraplegia, he began painting them in earnest. For Ricardo, who loved to dance and paint, these owls became familiar companions in his studio, bringing comfort and inspiration as he gave each one a personality of its own.
Over time, these studio companions became A Parliament of Owls, a collection of more than 80 distinctive characters. Painted in vivid colors, often in urban settings, they reflected Ricardo’s surrealist imagination and playful sense of humor. Some had feet or wheels; others rode skateboards. Ricardo also captured their personalities in colored pencil sketches on whatever was close at hand—from the backs of lottery tickets and envelopes to advertisements and pieces of cardboard..
Sharing Ricardo’s Owls: The 2002 Pen’s Pals Calendar
Alexa Bryson Art was established to preserve and share Ricardo Penalver’s art for the benefit of others. At the heart of its purpose was a commitment to enriching the lives of people with and without disabilities through art, while honoring everyone’s need for accessibility and compassion.
The 2002 Pen’s Pals Promotional Calendar brought that purpose to life through Ricardo’s owls. Alexa Bryson Art named each owl for a positive character trait, including Hope, Communication, Curiosity, Creativity, and Joy. The accompanying definitions invite people to explore these qualities, find inspiration in them, and bring them into everyday life.
The California Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons and the Governor’s Youth with Disabilities Program, in conjunction with Alexa Bryson Art, selected Ricardo’s owls for the calendar. His imaginative characters became part of a shared effort to promote disability employment awareness in California.
The calendar was distributed in partnership with Friends of the California Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons, Inc., and Alexa Bryson Art to benefit the California Model Youth Leadership Forum for Students with Disabilities (YLF). It reached business leaders throughout California, while public service announcements on CBS-KPIX-TV in San Francisco introduced Ricardo’s owls to a wider audience.
From Artwork to Pen’s Pals Soft Sculpted Owls
The story continued in 2003, when Alexa Bryson Art introduced Pen’s Pals Soft Sculpted Owls, bringing Ricardo’s owl paintings into three-dimensional form. Plush toy designer April Wilson captured the spirit of his artwork in the collection. Alexa Bryson Art named each owl for a positive character trait, carrying that theme into these new creations. The collection’s tagline was “More than just stuffed toys ... They’re Art!”
Hope and Communication, pictured here, are two of these owls. Alexa Bryson Art envisioned Pen’s Pals as companions that could inspire children to learn about positive character traits and develop those qualities in their own lives. The soft-sculpted owls offered another way to share Ricardo’s imaginative characters and the values behind their names.
In 2007, an original story idea from Alexa Bryson Art opened a new chapter for Ricardo’s owls in film and print. Inspired by his characters, Ackerman Films produced the stop-motion short film Meet the Owls. Keith Harary developed the story concept into The Owls of the Enchanted Forest, illustrated by Luba Gonina, with typography designed by Dale Champlin. Together, these collaborations gave audiences new ways to discover and enjoy Ricardo’s owls.
Alexa Bryson Art also shared Ricardo’s owls and artwork through benefits for Seattle Children’s Hospital and Toys for Tots, continuing its commitment to using art for the benefit of others. Whenever possible, it offered Ricardo’s original artwork for sale.
The focus on learning continued with Owls Pals, LLC. Established in 2009, the company developed an education program to help children build essential life values, social-emotional skills, and positive character traits. Segments on Seattle’s KING 5 television station introduced the program’s character-education message to a wider audience.
From paintings and a calendar to soft-sculpted companions, stories, and an education program, Ricardo’s owls have offered many ways to share his imagination. We invite you to explore these distinctive characters and the positive qualities they represent.
Ricardo Penalver, a shared dream fulfilled Affordable Art for the World
Affordable Art Prints & Gifts
Founded in San Francisco in 1974, PenAlexa Studio began with Ricardo and Alexa’s shared dream of making expressive art more accessible and affordable.
Today, Alexa carries that vision forward through Ricardo’s Art 37, her online Shop on Fine Art America. The collection offers affordable art prints and posters, along with greeting cards, notebooks, tote bags, mugs, and other art-inspired gifts.
Explore Ricardo’s Art 37 on Fine Art America to discover something for yourself, or a thoughtful gift to share.