Ben Ashton
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| Ben Ashton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983 UK |
| 🏫 Education | Abingdon College, Newcastle University (BA), Slade School of Fine Art (MFA)[1] |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | Portraiture |
| Notable work | Human, featured on the Rag'n'Bone Man album |
| 🌐 Website | www |
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Ben Ashton is a British visual artist, based in London. He is known for his hyper-realistic portraiture and immersive installation works. His practice combines classical techniques inspired by the Old Masters with contemporary distortion, often subverting traditional "swagger portraits" to critique historical and modern pomposity.
Education
Ashton was born in London to an artist father and a mother who was a head of creative arts. He completed his Art Foundation at Abingdon College (2001–2002) with distinction. He went on to study at Newcastle University, graduating with a First Class BA (Hons) in Fine Art (2002–2006). He later completed his MFA in Painting at the Slade School of Fine Art, London (2006–2008).[2][better source needed]
Notable works
Ashton’s work is characterised by the use of oil paint on canvas, panel, or paper, often resulting in photorealistic figures that are physically distorted, blurred, or obscured.[3]
- To Our Glorious Future: A series focusing on the Regency era and the birth of the British Empire. These works mimic the composition of historical portraiture (specifically the style of Thomas Lawrence) but introduce visual "glitches" or distortions to challenge the self-congratulatory nature of the genre.[4]
- The King is Dead, Long Live the King: A body of work that continues his exploration of historical subversion, featuring subjects in period costume with exaggerated physical warping.[5][better source needed]
- Album Artwork: Ashton created the cover art for Rag'n'Bone Man’s debut album Human and AlunaGeorge’s Body Music, often collaborating with his wife, photographer Fiona Garden.
- The Fashtons: Collaborative photographic and installation projects involving his wife, Fiona Garden, which explore their domestic and creative partnership.
Exhibitions
Ashton has exhibited internationally in solo and group shows, as well as in major portraiture competitions.
Selected Solo Exhibitions
- 2025: Or You Could Panic, Corey Helford Gallery.[6]
- 2024: Weaponised Nostalgia, Dorothy Circus Gallery, Rome.[7][better source needed]
- 2023: Before A Fall, Roq La Rue, Seattle.[8][better source needed]
- 2021: To Our Glorious Future, Roq La Rue, Seattle.[9][better source needed]
- 2016: The King is Dead, Long Live the King, The Cob Gallery, London.[10][better source needed]
- 2011: At Home with the Ashtons, Simon Oldfield Gallery, London.[11][12]
Selected Group Exhibitions
- 2025: Rendered Reality, StolenSpace Gallery, London.[13][better source needed]
- 2024: Phantasmagoria, Roq La Rue, Seattle.[14][better source needed]
- 2021: Lucid, Beinart Gallery, Melbourne.[15][better source needed]
- 2012 & 2014: BP Portrait Award, National Portrait Gallery, London.[16][17]
Notes and references
- ↑ "Ben Ashton". Kipton art advisory.
- ↑ "CV". Ben Ashton Art.
- ↑ Sienra, Regina (27 January 2025). "Artist Paints Traditional Portraits With a Distorted Twist Reflecting the Disruption of Art [Interview]". My Modern Met.
- ↑ "Ben Ashton - Portraits without limits". Photographize.
- ↑ "In Conversation with Ben Ashton" (PDF). Cob Gallery.
- ↑ "Or you could panic". Meer. 12 February 2025.
- ↑ "CABINET OF CURIOSITIES". Dorothy Circus Gallery.
- ↑ "Ben Ashton Before A Fall". Roq La Rue Gallery.
- ↑ "To Our Glorious Future". Roq La Rue Gallery.
- ↑ "The King is Dead, Long Live the King, 2016". Ben Ashton Art.
- ↑ "At Home with the Ashtons - Exhibition at Simon Oldfield Gallery in London". ArtRabbit.
- ↑ "Aesthetica Magazine - Simon Oldfield". Aesthetica Magazine.
- ↑ "Rendered Reality - 1 May - 1 June 2025". StolenSpace Gallery.
- ↑ "FANTASMAGORIA". Roq La Rue Gallery.
- ↑ "Lucid 2021". Beinart Gallery.
- ↑ "BP Portrait Award 2012 - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk.
- ↑ "BP Portrait Award 2014 - National Portrait Gallery". www.npg.org.uk.
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