Antonio Benjamin
1981 - 2019, San Francisco ∙ CE artist from 2012 - 2019
Photo by Evguenia Shtill
Antonio Benjamin is known for his cheeky nudes that can be read as exploring intersections of race, gender, and identity.
In the studio, Benjamin gravitated toward colored pencil, acrylic, and ink. His workspace required an array of colors for creating his iconic groups of flavored nude people. Benjamin’s nude cat-people confront conceptions of race, gender and how bodies are perceived as human.
Benjamin once remarked, "My work is about a group of people. Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla people. They all think different. The chocolate people, they are really Black, but I just call them chocolate."
In both digital and traditional media, Benjamin depicted African American people and churches, reflecting his community and culture. Flashing his trademark bright smile, he said this subject matter is important and inspiring to him “because of our history.”
Benjamin’s work continues to inspire community and justice. A drawing of houses was licensed for the national ART+ACTION 2020 Census campaign.
Select Exhibitions & Projects
2020
Of Here From There | De Aquí Desde Allá, San Francisco Art Institute, San Francisco, CA
Mother Nature! at Outsider Art Fair 2020, New York, NY
Big Bellies, Jewish Community Center San Francisco, CA
2019
Bitchin', Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2018
Faces and Places in the City, Eureka Valley/Harvey Milk Memorial Library, San Francisco, CA
2017
Exposed, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2016
Tabula Rasa, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2014
Way Out West, Mission District, San Francisco, CA
West Coasts, Museum of La Creation Franche, Begles, France
2012
Fabulous, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
Are We There Yet?, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2009
TV and Me, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
Legend: Myth and Memory, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2007
Seeing Memory, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
Naked, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
2006
Nature Rules, Creativity Explored, San Francisco, CA
