John Denney

John Denney, 68, passed away in St. George, Utah on January 31, 2023. He was the quintessential artist, having put his art above all else in his lifetime. He worked a number of jobs to pay the bills, but art was his true love and his calling. He studied for a brief time at the Maryland Institute College of Art, but left in 1972 to travel.

He settled in Fells Point in 1974, when it was a mecca for creative young artists and writers. He became an integral part of the artistic community. He has produced more than 33 one-man exhibits, as well as several group and/or juried shows.

John was known for his fierce independence and unique style. He favored surrealism, although his art could never be categorized into one area alone. He chose a wide range of subject matter - intense portraits, whimsical still lifes, gritty cityscapes, sweeping landscapes of the southwest and animal portraits. John was a devoted Baltimore sports fan and often incorporated logos of either the Ravens or the Orioles into his art. His work was fresh, thought provoking and executed in a manner that was unmistakably his own. Some of his works, upon close inspection, are a series of dots and lines. Millions and millions of them set upon the paper one at a time in a process that was as painstaking as it was beautiful.

John and Helen Wilson met in the 70's and their friendship/relationship spanned over 40 years. When Helen moved out to Utah in 2001, John followed just a few years later. They took care of each other, and in both life, and death, they are together. Helen passed just two days after John.

John Denney will be remembered for so much by those that knew him the best and loved him the most. But above all else, he will be remembered for his talent as an artist, his kindness as a human being and the fierce, independent spirit with which he lived his life.

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