The pen, a seemingly simple tool, can be used to create complex and staggering works of art. By definition, a pen is any type of instrument whose purpose is to apply ink to a surface. In addition to inventing papyrus, an early precursor to paper, Ancient Egyptians likely created the earliest forms of the pen, a stylus carved from reed. Such early devices had reservoirs for holding a small amount of ink, and a tip that could deposit the ink onto the writing surface. By about the sixth century BCE, craftspeople discovered the utility of large bird feathers as writing implements. Quill pens, which necessitated frequent dipping into an ink supply, continued to be used for centuries by artists, bookkeepers, and others who practiced the art of writing. Records indicate that pens containing their own supply of ink could have been invented as early as the tenth century CE, but a patent for such a pen was not issued until the nineteenth century. Historically, pens have been used by artists like Vincent van Gogh, Pablo Picasso, and Henri Matisse to create both finished works of art and preparatory drawings for larger works.

Today, artists use a variety of pens to craft drawings, sculptures, and beyond. Moving away from two-dimensional drawings, artist Mark Fox creates vast sculptural installations from pen and ink on paper, cut and manipulated in unexpected ways. Artists like Alan Vega employ the ballpoint pen, an apparently utilitarian tool, to create drawings of remarkable depth and expression. Other artists working in pen and ink include Erik Parker, Amy Gartrell, Frances Stark, Brian DeGraw, and Thomas Hirschorn.