Statement and Bio

Statement
I use painting to explore my environment, experiences, and inner worlds. Grounded in observational painting, my work spans a range of subject matter and degrees of abstraction, often reflecting the complex relationship between people and nature. Painting provokes me to see the world with greater sensitivity, and my work is a response to the elements that intrigue me. Shapes, light, and color interactions intiate the work, but they don’t necessarily dictate the outcome. In my effort to materialize a fleeting moment or idea, I experiment with process and materials, allowing something new to emerge.
Socially engaged projects and teaching are integral to my artistic practice. Collaborating with, learning from, and sharing experiences with others fuels my creativity and helps me better understand my role as an artist.

Bio
Ben Hamburger is a painter and art educator based in New Orleans, LA. He holds a B.A. in Visual Arts from Eckerd College and an M.F.A. in Community Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art.

His paintings have been featured in solo and group exhibitions across the U.S., including at the Maryhill Museum of Art, San Bernardino County Museum, Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh, and Degas Gallery in New Orleans. His work has been covered by NPR, Voice of America, The Baltimore Sun, Tampa Bay Times, South: A Scholarly Journal, Scalawag, and The News and Observer.

As an experienced educator, Hamburger has led workshops and taught in diverse settings including public schools, universities, art centers, museums, correctional facilities, and nonprofit organizations around the United States as well as in Bolivia, Thailand, and India.

Hamburger currently serves as an Adjunct Instructor at Western Carolina University’s School of Art and Design, teaches painting at the New Orleans Academy of Fine Art, and leads workshops nationwide. He can often be found painting throughout New Orleans or working from his studio at Mid-City Artist Studios.