Benjamin Work (born 1979,

Auckland Auckland (pronounced ) ( mi, Tāmaki Makaurau) is a large metropolitan city in the North Island of New Zealand. The List of New Zealand urban areas by population, most populous urban area in the country and the List of cities in Oceania by po ...

, New Zealand) is an artist from

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

with Tongan and

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

heritage. He is well known for his murals across New Zealand, as well as his paintings inspired by his genealogy back to

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

. Drawing on his Tongan heritage, Work began to explore new directions in his art over the last decade. Inspired by the iconography found on Tongan treasures such as ngatu (bark cloth), fala (Tongan mats), and 'akau tau (war clubs), his refined, graphic paintings aimed to find new spaces and ways for audiences to engage with Tonga's visual culture. Work's art found a home both inside institutions and on the streets. Work's early life was marked by a diverse cultural upbringing, a passion for art, and a deep exploration of his Tongan heritage. He has developed a deep interest in and conducted extensive research on aspects of Tongan history and culture. This exploration has allowed him to incorporate elements of Tongan traditions and symbols into his artwork, creating a unique fusion of contemporary and cultural influences. Work is part of the urban art movement and has exhibited in

Australia Australia, officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a Sovereign state, sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australia (continent), Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous List of islands of Australia, sma ...

Mexico Mexico (Spanish: México), officially the United Mexican States, is a country in the southern portion of North America. It is bordered to the north by the United States; to the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; to the southeast by Guatema ...

, New Zealand,

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

Cook Islands ) , image_map = Cook Islands on the globe (small islands magnified) (Polynesia centered).svg , capital = Avarua , coordinates = , largest_city = Avarua , official_languages = , lan ...

, and

. In 2015, Work co-curated a display at the

Auckland Museum The Auckland War Memorial Museum Tāmaki Paenga Hira (or simply the Auckland Museum) is one of New Zealand's most important museums and war memorials. Its collections concentrate on New Zealand history (and especially the history of the Auckla ...

with portraits from

representing the royal lines of Tu’i Tonga, Tu’i Ha’atakalaua and Tu’i Kanokupolu. In 2021, Work created a big 330-square-metre mural ''Motutapu II'' across the floor and up two walls of Canterbury Museum inspired by the distinctive carved patterns on Tongan ‘akau tau (war clubs) in the museum’s collection. In 2023, Work curated ''Tukufakaholo, Tongan Contemporary'', at Bergman Gallery, featuring 8 Tongan artists from

. Work's work are held public and private collections throughout New Zealand, such as in

, Canterbury Museum, and The Arts House Trust.

Selected residencies

* 2019: Artist in Residence, Para Site, Hong Kong

Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions

* 2023: ''Tautahi, In The Face Of Adversity'', Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * 2023: ''Bodies of Water, Made of Land'' (with Harrison Freeth), Te Tuhi, Auckland, New Zealand * 2023: ''Bodies of Water'' (with Harrison Freeth), Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, New Zealand * 2021: ''MOTUTAPU'' (with Brendan Kitto), Te Uru, Auckland, New Zealand * 2022: ''Toa Motu'', Bergman Gallery,

, New Zealand * 2018: ''Benjamin Work: Write it on the land, Seal it on the heart'', Te Tuhi, Auckland, New Zealand * 2017: ''Whenua Fonua 'Enua'' , Malcolm Smith Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand * 2017: ''Return to Havaiki'' (with Andy Leleisi’uao), Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * 2016: ''METfriday,'' The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, United States of America * 2016: ''For King and Country,'' Bergman Gallery, Rarotonga, Cook Islands * 2015: ''Ma'ae Tu'i mo e Fonua,'' Māngere Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand * 2015: ''Toutoutā,'' Olivia Laita Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand * 2014: ''I See Red, I See Red, I See Red'', Fresh Gallery, Otara, Auckland, New Zealand

Selected group exhibitions

* 2023: ''Horizon'', Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand * 2023: ''Tukufakaholo – Tongan Contemporary'', Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand * 2022: ''Te Atuitanga – Beneath our Cloak of Stars'', Bergman Gallery, Auckland, New Zealand * 2021: ''The Most Dedicated'', Dowse Art Museum, Wellington, New Zealand * 2015: ''PGP, AMbush Gallery,'' Sydney * 2013: ''If These Walls Could Talk'', TSB Bank Wallace Arts Centre, Auckland, New Zealand * 2013: ''Serigraph show,'' Olivia Laita Gallery, Auckland * 2011: ''Primary Flight'', Art Basel, Miami, United States of America

Publications

* *

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Work, Benjamin 1979 births Living people New Zealand people of Tongan descent New Zealand muralists Artists from Auckland 21st-century New Zealand painters