Reem Gallery
Ben Allen
British urban artist known for their dynamic pop art collages
Free-spirited, UK based artist Ben Allen is most well-known for his controversial Pop paintings. Using a ‘collage’ style of unlikely juxtapositions, the dynamic paintings are complex mash-ups of popular culture that critiques the day-to-day dull and mundane, challenge the media's view on sexuality and inspire a sense of freedom.
With designs gracing the walls of big names like Jade Jagger, Stephen Dorff, Sophie Ellis Bexter and Richard Branson, art displays in Selfridges and a 40ft artwork dominating the Notting Hill headquarters of Virgin.
Inspired by underground surfing and skateboard street scenes, Ben's art manages to capture the elusive zeitgeist and his clients now include Vans, Converse, Amy Winehouse Foundation, Levis, Virgin, Jamie Oliver, Channel 5, Nokia, Bracher Emden and Proporta.
Ben Allen's journey as an artist has seen his work developed over 10+ years, becoming more and more sought-after, Ben travels worldwide for clients and events, where he often collaborates with other top artists. He releases his work only in small numbers.
His work is in private collections throughout the UK, in Australia, New York, Las Vegas, Barcelona, Korea, Germany, Japan, Hong Kong, Ibiza and has been featured in Huck, Design Week, The Observer, The Times, Elle Déco, Plus1, Time Out, Loaded and GQ magazines to name but a few.
“On one hand you're confronted with contemporary Pop Art, on the other side, there's more of a cultural connection to old world civilizations that throng with ritual, mysticism, spirituality and meaning. The two sides don't make easy bedfellows but I wonder if Ben's intention was to contrast the depth, complexity and mystery of the old and the surface and transparency of the new?”
Peter Doherty – International Life Magazine Review
