Ricardo Penalver: An American Surrealist,
A Biography
This timeline traces Ricardo Penalver’s artistic practice and community service alongside key events in his life. Arranged from most recent to earliest, it begins with posthumous projects and activities associated with his legacy, then follows his lifetime record through exhibitions, design work, counseling, education, and personal milestones to his birth in 1937.
Posthumous Legacy, 1999–2026
2026 — RA37.art.
2024 — RicardoPenalver.com.
2020 — Instagram #ricardosart37.
2019 — RicardosArt37.com.
2019 — RicardosArt37@pixels.com; Affordable Fine Art Unique Gifts.
2018 — Woolsey wildfire: six major surrealistic artworks by Penalver destroyed: Mask, Spring Wizardry, Body of Spheres, Para Ti, Mastery, and Magnificent Sphere Power.
2006–2009 — Owl Pals; stop-motion animated film, Meet the Owls, by Ackerman films; The Owls of the Enchanted Forest, illustrated by Luba Gonina, written by Keith Harary, with typography by Dale Champlin.
2005 — Owl Pals benefit for Children’s Hospital and the Regional Medical Center, Seattle, WA.
2004 — Pen’s Pals Soft Sculpted Owls; Toys for Tots, Bellevue, WA.
2003–2004 — Pen’s Pals Soft Sculpted Owls More than just stuffed toys … They’re Art!
2002 — Pen’s Pals Calendar; California Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons and the Governor’s Youth Disabilities Program.
2002 — Pen’s Pals public service announcements, KPIX-TV CBS, San Francisco, CA; for the California Governor’s Committee for Employment of Disabled Persons and the Governor’s Youth with Disabilities Program.
2001 — ABILITY Magazine: Portrait of an Artist.
2000 — ABILITY Magazine: Thank You to Microsoft.
2000 — Artemis Gallery, Seattle, WA. 2000 — Christopher & Dana Reeve: personal communiqué.
2000 — Microsoft holiday gift: Seated Man Dancing, Petite Penalver limited-edition lithograph.
1999 — Petite Penalver created.
1999 — AlexaBrysonArt.com.
1999 — Alexa Bryson Art, LLC, founded by Alexa Bryson and Blanton Simmons; Bellevue, WA.
Life and Career, 1937–1995
1995 — Ricardo passed away.
1989 — Ricardo Penalver — 10 Years Later; Alexa Bryson Gallery, San Anselmo, CA.
1979 — Ricardo was robbed, shot, and paralyzed. He lived the remainder of his life as a paraplegic and taught himself to paint left-handed.
1978 — Longtime friend and liaison George Moscone, Mayor of San Francisco and California State Senator, was assassinated.
1978–1979 — Interpreter, San Francisco General Hospital; Multi-Cultural Program serving the San Francisco community.
1975 — LULAC Foundation opening ceremonies: poet Dorinda Morales dedicated La Nina Lina en East LA; Penalver Power for Ricardo Penalver.
1975 — Artist studio, LULAC Foundation, San Francisco, CA.
1975 — PenAlexa Studio: Affordable Art for the World; San Francisco, CA.
1974 — Miles Davis poster, Keystone Korner, San Francisco, CA.
1973 — Captive Arts, Sausalito, CA.
1973 — Nanny Goat Hill Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
1973 — KPIX-TV CBS, Solesvida, Marcos Gutierrez, San Francisco, CA.
1973 — Cal Tjader posters and handbills, San Francisco, CA.
1973 — Luis Gasca & Mongo Santamaria poster, Great American Music Hall, San Francisco, CA.
1973 — Jacaranda Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
1972 — Captive Arts Gallery, Sausalito, CA.
1972 — Huracan Productions: music and art; San Francisco, CA.
1972 — Fantasy Records, produced Suavecito, Malo Logo Design, Berkeley, CA.
1972 — KEMO-TV: set designs; San Francisco, CA.
1972 — Garfield Park Music Festival: poster and art show; San Francisco, CA.
1972 — Orphanage Club: mural, logo, and posters; San Francisco, CA.
1971 — KRON-TV NBC: set designs; San Francisco, CA.
1971 — Chicano Moratorium, East LA, CA.
1971 — A Penalver Exhibit, Stone Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
1970 — Horizon Project, Treatment Director, City of New York, under the direction of Mayor John Lindsay.
1969 — Discharge and Release from Superior Court of the State of California in and for the County of Los Angeles under the direction and assistance of Senator George Moscone.
1966–1969 — Counselor, San Francisco Public Health Department, Themis House, and Synanon Foundation.
1961–1965 — Vice Chairperson, Inmate Council, San Quentin Prison.
1960 — Met Senator George Moscone.
1960–1961 — Studied art and psychology, San Quentin School.
1957–1959 — Soledad Prison School; violation of Section 11500 of the Health and Safety Code, cannabis.
1953 — Golden Gloves Welterweight Champion, Texas.
1937 — Born April 4, San Antonio, TX.