(b. 1958, Boston, Massachusetts) creates gestural urban landscapes that utilize observational precision of contemporary realism that incorporates expressive abstraction. Foundational to Aronson’s work is his innate ability to capture light and the ways in which light varies between and within the cities he visits. As with his influences Richard Diebenkorn and Wayne Thiebaud, Aronson’s painterly texture, lush color palette, and aerial perspectives create a palpable sense of his landscapes without sacrificing their stunning geometric compositions. Aronson has been called a painter of the frozen moment and is recognized as one of America’s most respected painters of the contemporary urban landscape. His works offer instants in space and time, allowing the viewer to feel the energy found in each city. Aronson’s ability to suspend bustling moment in time and reveal the underlying beauty of urban life is a reflection of his true mastery of the medium. Ben Aronson is a member of the highly acclaimed National Academy, alongside Jasper Johns, Willem de Kooning and his mentor, Philip Guston. Awards include the prestigious 2006 Hassam, Speicher, Betts, and Symons Purchase Fund Prize from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, as well as the Pleissner Memorial Award for Painting at the National Academy of Design. Aronson’s works are in the permanent collections of many major institutions and over 50 museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Butler Institute of American Art in Ohio, the De Young Museum in San Francisco, the Denver Museum of Contemporary Art, Flint Institute of Arts in Michigan, the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, and the New Orleans Museum of Art. Aronson's work has been reviewed by ARTnews, The Art Newsletter, The Boston Globe, The New York Observer, The New Yorker, and The San Francisco Chronicle. He holds an MFA and BFA in painting from Boston University. Ben Aronson lives and works in Massachusetts. Current exhibitions include There Must Be a Way at Jenkins Johnson Gallery.
