Stephen Benwell
#beard 2024
synthetic polymer paint on Fabriano paper under painted glass
Courtesy of the artist and LON Gallery, Melbourne

Stephen Benwell
#beard 2024
synthetic polymer paint on Fabriano paper under painted glass
Courtesy of the artist and LON Gallery, Melbourne


Stephen Benwell


#beard 2024
synthetic polymer paint on Fabriano paper under painted glass
Courtesy of the artist and LON Gallery, Melbourne

Artist statement:

One of the recurring subjects in my artwork is men. Typically, this focus is mediated through the lens of Greco-Roman statuary. However, a recent series of paintings has sampled images from the online realm. This character got my attention because he models the current men’s hairstyle of letting the beard grow while shaving the head—a reversal of norms. Telescoping the image behind painted glass and a black frame is a deliberate reference to Dutch 17th century pictures. As art history has always documented fashions, this work seeks to do the same, as men continue to experiment with their appearance beyond lace ruffs and neckties.