Guyanese-American
Gavin Benjamin is a multidisciplinary artist whose work masterfully intertwines analog photography, appropriated imagery, collage, paint, and varnish to create opulent, textured compositions. Drawing inspiration from baroque traditions, his art bridges the sumptuous aesthetics of the past with provocative explorations of contemporary culture. By layering historical references with modern critiques, Benjamin creates a dialogue that is both timeless and urgently relevant.
Born in Guyana, South America, and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Benjamin earned his BFA from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Early in his career, he honed his craft under the mentorship of legendary portrait photographer Arnold Newman. He further developed his expertise as a black-and-white and color printer at LTI and Baboo Color Labs, before entering the commercial photography world through roles at Edge Reps and Exposure NY. As a freelance production coordinator and photo editor, he contributed to renowned brands and publications, including Kenneth Cole Productions, Esquire, Hachette Filipacchi Media, and Good Housekeeping.
Benjamin’s artistic vision is deeply influenced by the 15th- to 17th-century Dutch and Italian masters, whose works captivate him with their romantic, brooding atmospheres, dramatic chiaroscuro, and rich, luxurious palettes. “I am drawn to the juxtaposition of objects and compositions that come together to tell a story,” he reflects, infusing his own pieces with a similar sense of narrative and emotional depth.
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Through his work, Benjamin investigates the intersections of culture, media, politics, fashion, and design, addressing the complexities of being a man of color in America. His pieces reflect a multifaceted exploration of identity: “My work includes everything I love and everything I’m challenged by. It’s honest, curious, bright, thoughtful—and sometimes dark. It embodies all the reasons I became an artist in the first place.”
Benjamin’s art has been exhibited in prestigious venues and fairs, including Slick Paris, Sotheby’s NY, the Architectural Digest Home Design Show, Art Hamptons, the Affordable Art Fair, Scope Miami, Palm Beach Modern, Context Miami, Context NY, Art Silicon Valley, and the LA Art Show.
A true innovator, Benjamin continues to captivate audiences with his ability to blend the opulence of art history with the complexities of modern life, offering a body of work that is as visually compelling as it is intellectually and emotionally resonant.