Ben Ashton - “Before A Fall”

new paintings

July 8th - August 5th 2023

Opening night reception July 8th 6-9pm ~ Artist In Attendance

We are excited to present a solo show of new paintings by London based painter Ben Ashton. Ashton’s work delves into the myths, lies and confabulations of class, supremacy, and the weaponization of nostalgia. Skewering the concept of aristocracy via the swagger portraits of Empire, his work also evokes a dark hallucinogenic beauty that entices the viewer in. Running the gamut from ethereally delicate to brutally grotesque, the work is always mesmerizing.
For this show, "Before A Fall", Ashton found inspiration in the story of Baron Munchausen, most widely known as a character in Terry Gilliam's film "The Adventures of Baron Munchausen". This epic light hearted fantasy was based on the real life person of Baron Munchhausen, a German Army Captain in the 1700's known for making absurd claims and telling fantastical stories of his assorted life adventures and abilities. Additionally, Ashton was inspired by the complete loss of real world perspective and ostentatious fripperies historically indulged in by royalty and the obscenely wealthy upper classes during times of strife, right before it gets societally self corrected (see: The enthusiastic embrace of the guillotine during the French Revolution, a timeframe mirrored in the costuming in these paintings). These indulgences and grandiose claims to improve the world, while never actually doing it, is mirrored in our own society today with the rise of the billionaire CEO classes. The news is filled with stories of our assorted leaders transmitting claims of wide ranging humanitarian interests and accomplishments as well as delusions of exceptional abilities or intelligence, when really all that happens is exploitation of the working classes while drinking champagne on obscene super yachts. It is this deluded hubris that Ashton skewers in his paintings.

While Ashton is known for his captivatingly and sinuously warped oil paintings, this time he has also created a host of special artist hand built off kilter panels with gilded edges. His subjects are painted in creamy, luminous tones in beautiful, classical compositions which offset the themes of the works in a palatable and even humorous way. This show will be composed of large scale works on panel as well as six oil on paper works.

Please contact us if you’d like additional images, details, or a short video of a piece.

Ben Ashton *“General Neglect”* oil on hand built beveled edge and gilded panel approx 41.5” x 47” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Before A Fall”* oil on hand built beveled edge and gilded panel approx 48” x 57” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Yute”* oil on hand built beveled edge and gilded panel approx 35.5” x 47” $10,500.

Ben Ashton *“Let Them Eat Fake”* oil on hand built beveled edge and gilded panel approx 39” x 47” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Major Inequity”* oil on hand built beveled edge and gilded panel approx 41.5” x 57” $15,000.

Ben Ashton *“Dying On The Vine”* oil on hand built beveled edge and gilded panel 41.5” x 50” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Who Me?”* oil on panel in gilt frame approx 32” x 27.5” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Wherever You Go, There You Are”* oil on round, beveled and gilded panel approx 33” round $8000

Ben Ashton *“Oh I See”* oil on paper, framed under glass in black and gold frame 16.5” x 22” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Melancholy”* oil on paper, framed under glass in black and gold frame 20.5” x 26” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“Figurehead”* oil on paper, framed under glass in black and gold frame 20” x 24.5” $4500.

Ben Ashton *“Eyes Left”* oil on paper, framed under glass in black and gold frame 18.5” x 24” SOLD

Ben Ashton *“The Mews”* oil on paper, framed under glass in black and gold frame 20.5” x 26” $4500.

Ben Ashton *“Drawing A Blank”* oil on paper, framed under glass in black and gold frame 17.5” x 22.5” SOLD

Examples of frames on oil on paper works.