Marc Benja (a slideshow)

Author of the article

"My paintings explore variegated shapes, moods and experimental aesthetics — how color, color play, and hints of representational objects can trigger emotions and memories with or without recognizable/representational forms within organic movement. These paintings allow color itself to become an expression of shape. These combine to form an expressive value on the canvas. The works are partly inspired by my fascination with nature, specifically flora and its geometry, as well as my practice in quilt-making and textile production. Some believe I have an obsession with the male genitalia. The paintings express a condition, too — a new stage in my career. They show greater focus upon the very act of creating art." Marc Benja is a Chicago based visual artist working with paint, textiles, fiber, photography, printmaking, ceramics, and other media. He began his art career at 48 years old after a 25 year stint in corporate America. He is the owner/curator of Fluffy Crimes, a no-profit, artist-run exhibition space featuring artists from around the world, and which was featured in NewCity magazine. He has exhibited his work at ArtSpace Chicago, Hyde Park Art Center, Oliva Gallery, ALMA Art & Interiors, MANA Contemporary, Epiphany Center for the Arts and other venues. He was a Spudnik Cooperative Press Fellow, a resident at the Intersect Studio Fiber/Weaving Studio, completed the Bridge program at Hyde Park Art Center, and was a virtual resident at Ox-Bow School of Art. He was also the 3-Dimensional Arts program instructor at After School Matters. He received his Bachelors of Arts with Honors from Columbia College Chicago.