- Jul 1

Ben Stephenson

Ben Stephenson is a painter, sculptor, photographer, and installation artist who has exhibited consistently in London and Mexico since 2015. Residencies he has participated in include Studio Ebierto, Bema Project in Mexico and The Owl Barn Residency in the United Kingdom. Ben has been published in Saatchi Art’s catalogue and was listed in their Rising Stars report for 2021. Recent solo exhibitions include Plan B Gallery in Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico and a feature at Chrom Gallery in London.

The works, both two- and three dimensional, have a tendency to portray angularity, asymmetry, and negative space. Recurring themes within the works reflect on the representation of tiger mascots and geometric influences from ancient Mesoamerican cultures. There remains a primal and ancestral quality of the works bridging the viewer towards an earlier era rich in representations of surface texture and ferocity. The paintings, sculptures, and installations are usually subdued into neutral and cool tones giving off a therapeutic aesthetic to the veneer. A recurring theme of large cats (which could be tigers or Mesoamerican jaguars) and representations of nature invoke a tribalist and naturalist spirit harkening towards eras and civilizations with spirited, warrior philosophies who have a direct relationship with the land they harvest, hunt, and sow.

Do Flowers Always Dream of the Rain (pictured above) remains one of Ben’s most primal pieces. Clearly influenced by mesoamerican culture, the pottery installation with full earth mound stand and exotic foliage represents an alien interpretation of interior design aesthetics. The vase, which appears more fantasy inspired than historically related, has spikes protruding from the asymmetrical form which appear like the barbs on the plant. A vastly earthy and natural installation which resembles the more aggressive forms of nature rather than the usual ornamental and smooth qualities of the natural world found in art.

Ben Stephenson moved to Mexico in order to gather tropical and unnaturalized stimuli as well as with the intention of redefining the conceptual notion of exoticism. His fascination with Mesoamerican and South American culture and historical relevance has led him to create fantasy-induced art which creates contemporary interpretations behind the spirit of these civilizations. With unique, aggressive forms, a cool color palette, and ferocious subject matter, Ben directs the audience towards his vision of contemporary aesthetics of nature, history, and culture. With a varied portfolio of philosophical-induced sets of series and a deep understanding of asymmetrical, angular form Ben instills new refreshing takes on historical and cultural boundaries with conceptual context.