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Ben Allen grew up in Brighton, England but a quest to find uncrowded waves took him to Mexico where capturing images became an obsession and then eventually a career.
Allen is a self-trained artist who has been heavily influenced by his travels in search of the best surfing and skating on the planet. This cultural and global immersion has expanded his perspective on the world.
"There are characteristics of travel and surfing that have played a huge part in my work: the search, the patience, the flow, the zone, the focus to get to the point where you are not thinking any more just becoming a motion but controlled and totally out of control in a moment. All these apply to making my work."
Most well-known for his collage style controversial pop paintings, Ben Allen depicts a complex mash-up of popular culture that critiques the everyday mundane, challenges views on sexuality and inspires freedom. His beginnings in Brighton were the introduction to graffiti and he now works with a range of media.
"I am constantly photographing my process and experiments. I will look at these on the computer and start playing around with digital files overlaying them. Then take it all back to the studio and mix it up on top of some collage or several backgrounds that I have on the go at any one time. There is an overall plan but its a process that changes to accommodate as much creative flow as possible."
Ben's works have become increasingly sought after with several high profile celebrities like Jade Jagger, Sophie Ellis Bexter and Richard Branson being collectors. Other clients include Vans, Converse, Amy Winehouse Foundation, Levis and Virgin.
Ben's work is featured in private collections throughout the UK, Europe, Australia, Asia and America.
Want to learn more about Ben Allen?
Ben Allen: The obsessive surfer and skateboarder who learned his own trade
