Deborah Benjamin

My method of working has changed from the conception of the completed ‘piece’ at the beginning of the creation process, to a more open and experimental approach. I have always enjoyed the challenge of working in different mediums and have utilised sculpture, printing, laser cutting, photography and time-based media in work, allowing the exploration of techniques to guide ideas for 'completed' pieces.
More recently, I have aimed to widen my creativity in the realization that my Fine Art training has often entailed unconscious self-censorship. I have consciously tried to be more open and pursue more fleeting interests, and to see where this may lead. This area is documented in my blog; Deborah’s Creative Capers.

It was through taking digital photographs during my everyday travels that I developed an interest in London architecture, particularly atrium roofs. So often when we are out and about we miss a lot of interesting things by not looking up or around us, by not taking a little time to notice. I found that I was drawn towards the construction elements; the geometry of the support beams and the light and reflections from the glass. Light always seems magical to me – as the source of illumination materially and metaphoricall...

MA Fine Art, University of East London, 9/06-9/08
PGCE Art and Design , Goldsmiths College, London, 9/96-7/97
BA (Hons) Degree Fine Art, Middlesex University / School of The Art Institute of Chicago, USA , 9/90-7/93
Art Foundation Course, St Martins School of Art, London, 9/86-7/87

SCHOLARSHIPS/AWARDS

UEL Travel Scholarship 11/08 Beijing, China
ILEA Award 7/85 Rouen, France
John Collett Travel Award 8/84 Cyprus and 8/85 Italy

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
SE5 Arts Trail Myatts Fields Round House Installations / Myatts Fields Park, London, 11/14
‘Textural Moments’ Sculpture and Installation / Gallery II, University of Bradford, 11/96-12/96
Myatts Field Glass House Installations / Myatts Field Park, London, 6/96
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
City Studio Group Exhibition / sixtysevenA Gallery at City Studios, London 12/12
‘Elements of Surprise’ / Core@Nolias Gallery, London 15 -25/12
City Studio Artists Group Exhibition / sixtysevenA at City Studios, London, 6/10
UEL Travel Scholarship Exhibition / AVA Gallery Docklands, London, 20-24/4/09
‘East/West: Home and Displacement’ /UEL MA Students / Moonriver Gallery, Beijing, China, 17-18/11/08
UEL MA Exhibition / AVA Gallery Docklands, London 3/9/08-8/9/08
‘Hidden Worlds’ / Redgate Gallery, London, 1-6/3/08
UEL MA Students / AVA Gallery Docklands, London 24/10-29/10/07
Postcard Art / Shipton St Gallery, London, 12/8-9/9/07
Postcard Art / Faux Gallery, Leigh-on-Sea, 19-26/5/07
‘East End Comes to Southend’ / Ciao Gallery, Southend-on-Sea, 17/4-3/5/07
‘On Paper’ / RK Burt Gallery, London, 12-23/3/07