Ben Zawalich comes from Chile to be the March Artist-in-Residence

March 29, 2019

Northwestern’s Artist-in-Residence for March is Ben Zawalich, who will present an artist’s talk and assembled drawing workshop on April 3 from 6-9 p.m. in JDA324. He'll also be showing his work in JDA323 on April 5 and at Graceful Arts that same evening.

Ben Zawalich decided to take a small break from Santiago, Chile, where he currently lives and works, to be back in the United States to become the current Artist-in-Residence with the visual arts program at Northwestern Oklahoma State University.

He will present an artist talk and workshop Wednesday, April 3, in Jesse Dunn Annex, room 324, from 6-9 p.m. He plans to base his artist talk on how his residency projects have led up to his current work, followed by an Assembled Drawing Workshop. Both are free and open to the public.

All supplies will be provided for the Assembled Drawing Workshop where all experience levels of artists will create a drawing through embarking on a collaborative, non-linear drawing process that utilizes construction, deconstruction and assemblage as key elements in the creative pursuit.

Zawalich has been awarded several residencies around the world including in Ghana, France, Japan, China, Indonesia, Italy, Czech Republic, Ecuador and Argentina.

He said most of his work resembles ancient civilization, Egyptian and Babylonian type of works and added that the art he’s creating appears as though it’s from a false civilization that doesn’t exist.

The artwork he’s been creating on campus since his residency began March 1 will be shown April 1 from 3-5 p.m. in Jesse Dunn 323. His small works will be exhibited downtown at the Graceful Arts Center that same day for the First Friday Art Walk from 6-8 p.m. and through the month.

Zawalich is originally from Boston, and even though he now lives in Chile, the United States is still his country. In 2006 he earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in printmaking from Massachusetts College of Art and Design. He then earned his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree in painting from Boston University in 2012, and in 2014 he earned a Master of Arts degree from Royal College of Art in London. In Chile he is the founder and director of the international artist-in-residence program The Molten Capital.

Even though Zawalich has traveled to several places, this is his first time to be in this part of the U.S., and he said some of the colors he’s been using in his work resemble the colors he’s seen around this area. He said he has never used these colors before. During his stay here he said he also has noticed the flat horizons, which he also has added in his work.

Zawalich said the places he’s had the opportunity to travel to around the world have really inspired most of his work, but several of his artistic influences began at an early age.

“When I was growing up I had access to a museum that had a huge Egyptian collection,” he said. “I think that’s what started it off. I’ve always had that as kind of a visual theme.”

To view Zawalich’s work visit www.benzawalich.com.

For more information, contact Kyle Larson, assistant professor of art, at (580) 327-8606 or krlarson@nwosu.edu.

-NW-