Benjamin Spark is a contemporary French painter. Prior to embracing his identity as an artist, Spark initially charted a different course, founding and working in an Internet company in the heart of Paris. However, a transformative decision altered the trajectory of his life at the age of 30, leading him to abandon the corporate world and wholeheartedly immerse himself in the realm of painting.
His artistic education commenced through evening classes at the École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts in Paris, where he honed his skills in the field of drawing. Subsequently, in 2006, Spark made a pivotal move, permanently relocating from Paris to Brussels in pursuit of a dedicated space to cultivate his artistic endeavors. This change marked the beginning of a flourishing chapter in his career, with Belgium serving as a fertile ground for the evolution of his distinctive artistic expression.
The essence of Benjamin Spark's work can be described as a dynamic fusion of street art and pop art, often coined as "street pop." Rooted in the influences of pictorial movements such as free figuration, narrative figuration, and pop art, Spark draws inspiration from the captivating narrative figuration of Erró. Influential artists like Michel Macréau, Michel Majérus, and Sigmar Polke also play a pivotal role in shaping his artistic sensibilities.
In Spark's creations, comic book characters from diverse origins coalesce with imagery inspired by graffiti, logos, video games, advertising, manga, and art history. The meticulous orchestration of these elements involves cutting, modifying, and juxtaposing images to achieve a narrative composition that encapsulates the artist's emotions. The deliberate extraction of images from their original contexts, placed against colorful and contrasting backgrounds, forms the hallmark of Spark's distinctive style.
Presented by BELART Gallery
BELART Gallery
(Art gallery, Belgium)
