CV

Ben Nathan     b. London, UK / Living and working in London


Ben Nathan works across different media, from painting and photography to film and sculpture. His artistic practice reflects on the functionality of the city and its industry, documenting the evolution of urban change. Its scope draws attention to basic civil amenities, and the people who serve our society, in what could be considered as the ‘Real’ but ‘Invisible City’. His explorations into infrastructure act as a catalyst to question the changing nature of our cities environment and access to public or private space.


Ben studied at The Slade School of Fine Art (2008), The Royal Drawing School (2009), and recently completed a seven-month residency in Berlin at ZK/U (Centre for Art and Urbanistics) (2017/18). During this time, he was awarded a grant on the Artist Dis-Placement programme, working on a scrap metal ship and at TSR metal recycling. This was funded by Artecitya project, and co-funded by the Creative Europe programme, EU. Recent solo shows include Nouveau Quartier, Collectif Nabuchodonosor, Barnabu, Béziers, France (2018), [K-re-t] and Structure, 43 Inverness Street (2015/13). Group shows include OPENHAUS Vorspiel, transmediale & CTM and Modular Relations, ZK/U, Berlin, Germany (2017), Pyeong Chang Biennale, South Korea (2015), East London Painting Prize (2014). Awards and residencies include LCN programme at SPACE (2017), SeMA Nanji Residency, Seoul Museum of Art (2014), Educational Scholarship, AJA (2013) and IJAYA, The Ben Uri Gallery (2012). In 2015 he was commissioned to produce a large- scale mural for Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd, Crouch End.


In 2020 Ben established Pinhole London, a diverse community art project that programmes workshops, events and exhibitions with a focus on championing analogue photography. Our award-winning independent venture aims to engage a wide audience by providing a collaborative approach to creating artwork with local residents, schools and organisations. We create opportunities for people of all ages and learning needs to participate in creative ways to discover, record and learn from contemporary and historical viewpoints. Our approach is inclusive and accessible for all and we are always on the lookout for new ideas and partners. Follow us on social media to show your support for community art & details of what's on: @PinholeLondon


In 2017 Ben Nathan & Matthew Robinson established Baden Projekt. The work researches the ritual of open water swimming within urban spaces. The artists explore the extreme elements of nature and document the experience and health benefits associated with this ritual. In 2018, Baden Projekt developed a site-specific work for ARTBAT FEST 9, Almaty, Kazakhstan responding to climate change and the depletion of glaciers. Their work explores the changing state of water, to provide alternative perspectives on nature and the city. One of the primary concerns of Robinson and Nathan’s work is to try to bridge the gap between film documentary and film installation, providing a means to immerse the audience within a constructed environment which provides a sensory experience. The work promotes the significance and the impact that water has on health and wellbeing.


Solo exhibitions

2018 / Nouveau Quartier, Collectif Nabuchodonosor, Barnabu, Béziers, France
2015 / [K-rei-t], 43 Inverness Street, London, UK
2013 / Structure, 43 Inverness Street, London, UK
2012 / Vision, Hosted at the offices of Rosenblatt Solicitors, London, UK


Selected group exhibitions

2019 / Le Grand Nabucho #5, Collectif Nabuchodonosor, Place Saint-Jacques, Béziers, France
2018 / ARTBAT FEST 9, Ben Nathan and Matthew Robinson, Almaty, Kazakhstan
2018 / Le Grand Nabucho #4, Collectif Nabuchodonosor, Place Saint-Jacques, Béziers, France
2018 / Vorspiel, transmediale & CTM, ZK/U, Berlin, Germany
2017 / Modular Relations, ZK/U, Berlin, Germany
2017 / OPENHAUS, ZK/U, Berlin, Germany
2017 / BERLIN ART WEEK, ZK/U, Berlin, Germany
2017 / London Creative Network, [ s p a c e ], London, UK
2016 / Bothy, formerly located in The City of London, s.l.o.a.p. London, UK
2015 / Pyeong Chang Biennale, Gangwon Province, South Korea
2014 / NANJI TANKS, SeMA Nanji Residency, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea
2014 / East London Painting Prize, Bow Arts, London, UK
2010 / Our Shop, Collaborative community project with Antony Ward, London, UK
2009 / Underground City, Divus Unit 30, London, UK
2008 / MC Motors, MC Motors, London, UK


Community art workshops, participation events & exhibitions

2022 / The First Photo, Wood Green, Arts Council project grant.
2022 / Tottenham Through a Pinhole, Heritage Action Zone, Historic England & Haringey Council.
2020 / Somers Town Photo, workshops & public exhibition in Somers Town, London, UK.  Culture Seeds award. Click here to see the exhibition.
20-20 / Pinhole London, workshops & interactive exhibition in Wood Green, London, UK. Arts Council England award. Click here for the press release.
Lockdown / # WashYourBeerCan (WYBC) & World Wide Pinhole Day (WWPD) Workshops & Exhibition, pinhole photography from your own home. Collaborative project with Surveyor 1, Béziers, France.
19-22 / Myddleton Road Market, 26 photographic workshops and exhibitions, London, UK
2019 / Analogue photography workshops. Fortismere School, London, UK
2019 / Pinhole photography activity. Somers Town Festival, London, UK
2019 / Caravan Camera Portraits with Collectif Nabucho, Béziers, France
2019 / Pinhole camera event. Nosotros social center, Athens, Greece
2018 / Caravan Camera Obscura with Collectif Nabucho, Béziers, France
2018 / Sténopé Béziers #1 & #2, pinhole workshop. Barnabu, Béziers, France


Education

2013 – 2014 / Institute of Education, University of London. PGCE Art and Design Education
2008 – 2009 / The Prince’s Drawing School, London, Postgraduate Diploma
2004 – 2008 / The Slade School of Fine Art, UCL, London, BA Fine Art
2006 – 2007 / Bezalel Academy of Art and Design, Jerusalem, Exchange studies
2003 – 2004 / Middlesex University, London. Foundation Diploma in Art and Design


Awards, residencies and commissions

2023 / Untold Edmonton community grant for Tales from the Towpath, AiR Barge FIODRA, Enfield Council, London, UK

2020 / National Lottery Project Grant for Pinhole London, Arts Council England, UK
2020 / Culture Seeds Grant for Pinhole London, Mayor of London, UK
2020 / a-n Artist Bursaries 2020, UK
2019 / Residency Avocado House (Το σπίτι του αβοκάντο), Athens, Greece
2018 / Residency Collectif Nabuchodonosor, Barnabu, Béziers, France
2018 / Artist Dis-Placement programme, ZK/U & Artecitya project, Berlin, Germany
2017 / ZK/U Residency, Zentrum für Kunst und Urbanistik, Berlin, Germany
2017 / London Creative Network, [ s p a c e ], London, UK
2015 / Picturehouse Cinemas Ltd commission, Crouch End Picturehouse, London, UK
2014 / SeMA Nanji Residency, Seoul Museum of Art, Seoul, South Korea
2013 / AJA Educational scholarship, AJA, UK
2012 / IJAYA, The Ben Uri Gallery, UK
2010 / Creative Grant for Our Shop, Camden Council, UK
2009 / Winsor and Newton prize, The Prince’s Drawing School, UK
2008 / The Prince’s Drawing School, Scholarship for year of study


Collected

HRH The Prince of Wales
Rosenblatt Solicitors
Various private collections in UK, USA and South Korea