Benjamin Blanc Named Finalist for ACS Studio Prize Amid Uneasy Figurative Works
French artist Benjamin Blanc, based in London, has reached the finals of the ACS Studio Prize, chosen by judges David Dawson, Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Philip Mould, and Viscountess Bridgeman. The exhibition is scheduled from 22 to 25 September at Gurr Johns, with a £6,000 bursary awarded to the winner. Blanc’s figurative pieces delve into unsettling choreography within interiors, characterized as both vivid and grotesque, drawing inspiration from Maria Lassnig and Sara Ahmed. Born in 2000, he earned a BA from Central Saint Martins in 2023 and an MA from the Royal College of Art. His recent works are two metres in size, contrasting with his earlier, smaller pieces. The article ponders the potential impact of the prize on his distinctive, sensation-focused practice.
Key facts
- Benjamin Blanc is a French painter based in London.
- He is one of five finalists for the tenth edition of the ACS Studio Prize.
- The finalists were selected by David Dawson, Sir Gabriele Finaldi, Philip Mould and Viscountess Bridgeman.
- The five finalists will exhibit at Gurr Johns in St James's from 22 to 25 September, with the winner announced at the private view.
- The winner receives a £6,000 bursary towards studio rent.
- Blanc was born in 2000, studied at Camberwell and Central Saint Martins, and earned an MA at the Royal College of Art with a Winsor & Newton bursary.
- He has exhibited at Ada Ventura, La Communale, and twice at Galerie Peter Gaugy, including shows with Gracelee Lawrence and curated by Chiara Canullo Stefanelli.
- His work is influenced by Maria Lassnig's body awareness and Sara Ahmed's ideas on how rooms orient bodies.
Entities
Artists
- Benjamin Blanc
- Gracelee Lawrence
- David Dawson
- Sir Gabriele Finaldi
- Philip Mould
- Viscountess Bridgeman
- Chiara Canullo Stefanelli
- Maria Lassnig
- Sara Ahmed
- Gaston Bachelard
- Giotto
Institutions
- ACS Studio Prize
- Gurr Johns
- Camberwell
- Central Saint Martins
- Royal College of Art
- Winsor & Newton
- Galerie Peter Gaugy
- Ada Ventura
- La Communale
Locations
- London
- United Kingdom
- Paris
- France
- Saint-Ouen
- Brussels
- Belgium
- St James's