London-based artist Ben Turnbull presents and outsider's perspective on America's tumultuous past. From colourful collages painstakingly crafted from American war comics, to intricate carvings on reclaimed school desks, Turnbull explores sometimes difficult themse through an unashamedly parodic lens. An often troubled child, Turnbull fixated on action figures, comics and often incorporates his vast collection of plastic toys in his work. Ben Turnbull has recently held 'American History Remix' at the Saatchi Gallery, a retrospective exhibition voyaging into the darker days of America's past. Ben Turnbull's boldly candid exploration of America's political mayhem, childhood innocence, and gun culture, never fails to capitvate and suprise the onlooker.
Turnbull, who previously worked as a craftsman on film sets, has exhibited in several solo exhibitions including his breakthrough show Us Vs Them at the Lazarides Gallery in 2007, and in the infamous Santa’s Ghetto show on Oxford Street in 2006.
Born in London in 1974, Ben Turnbull is a contemporary pop artist who has been fascinated by American pop culture and comic books since his early youth. Americana is central to his art and, working with found objects including vintage comic books and toys, he creates challenging and provocative discourses on American politics and social ideologies.
Us Vs ThemBorn in London in 1974, Ben Turnbull is a contemporary pop artist who has been fascinated by American pop culture and comic books since his early youth. Americana is central to his art and, working with found objects including vintage comic books and toys, he creates challenging and provocative discourses on American politics and social ideologies. at the Lazarides Gallery in 2007, and in the infamous Santa’s Ghetto show on Oxford Street in 2006.
He was offered a prestigious solo representation at Volta New York in 2010 after a series of his London shows brought attention to gun crime and teenage angst and, in 2011, his show Supermen – An Exhibition of Heroes presented a series of comic book collage portraits of the firefighters who gave their lives during the 9/11 attacks.
International group shows have included We Could Be Heroes: The Mythology of Monsters and Heroes in Contemporary Art in Utah, USA, in 2012, and, in the same year, he was invited to exhibit a retrospective of his large scale works at The Lancaster Institute for the Contemporary Arts
In the summer of 2021, a major exhibition of Turnbull’s work was staged at the Saatchi Gallery, London. American History RemiX was the culmination of his ongoing examination of American history and brought together a body of work created over a period of 15 years.
