About The Artist
Willow Benjamin (1999) is a pop-surrealism artist specializing in acrylic painting. Creating images that depict surreal and occasional eerie imaginations. Merging reality and idealism with a sense of storytelling, Willow uses her electric neon palettes and balanced brush-strokes to release her inner emotions. Using acrylic paint more like oils, she builds layers with heavy slow dry mixing mediums to blend her paint with a smooth or textured finish. With paint markers, and the help of an airbrush, she creates her mesmerizing signature glowing affectsArtist Statement: Willow Benjamin’s work is a visual explosion of emotion and energy, with a high-fashion-meets-fantasy vibe. It appeals to audiences who appreciate bold aesthetics, modern portraiture, and neon-drenched surrealism. Each piece feels like a window into an ultra-stylized, emotionally charged universe, balancing between a electric reality and a hyper-stylized dreamscape "Painting is my true passion, it's all I have of myself that I can find happiness in. Painting has always been my escape, through years of family abuse. My work has come in many forms, but my current neon style has stuck. I've spent years trying to find work that truly speaks to me and my personality. I've been told my whole life that I am stupid, worthless, and will never be enough. Inside of me is a dark place and I have found that my colorful artwork helps to show where I actually shine. I love using an airbrush to create my neon sign like glow. I use thick acrylic paint, with techniques of using mixing mediums and pastes in layers to make my work look like that of oils. I'm truly inspired by the greats throughout history, such as Sargent and Goya. Turning renaissance figure like style into my own modern take."How it Started
I grew up with incredible anxiety and a troubled childhood. My father being in and out of prison, writing letters was the only thing that kept us connected. We shared a love of drawing and he pushed me to always keep a love and passion about it, to one day surpass him in skill. Of course, I am now estranged to my father, but the passion he instilled in me since birth never went away. My art was a way for me to cope, being the "dumb art girl" throughout school. Having a family relationship where I was emotionally abused. Reminded daily that I couldn't do anything right. Getting dishes and furniture thrown my way, food kept from me and a constant reminder that "nobody loves you." All while raising my younger sibling. Art was always my solace. It kept me grounded, as I was always dreamer. Having imaginary friends, and making up my own little worlds in my head. Putting my ideas onto paper. When I would be shaking from an anxiety attack, I would clutch my pencil and draw to steady myself. When the rest of my family was asleep, I would stay up until 6 am to do art, finally being able to shut out my brain and enjoy silence. Into my adulthood I still struggle not to flinch if someone drops their purse or groceries on the table too hard. But the one constant is my love for art, and the connections and positive relationships I have made through it. All my life, art was the one thing I was good at, the one thing I always got praised with. Despite having the questions "is there anything else you can do? We can't afford art college. How are you going to realistically find success?" The positivity around my art, and the spite growing in me to make something of myself with it, to prove other wrong is what drives me. I have a burning passion in me. I have to get there one day. For me and the little girl who needs to hear it, that prayed we would get out of all of it, prove them all wrong. I will achomplish my dreams.
