ABOUT THE ARTIST:

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​Bridgers earned his BFA in Painting from Barton College (Wilson, NC) in 1995 before pursuing graduate work in Cortona, Italy, and later earning his MFA from the University of Georgia. Over the past three decades, he has exhibited nationally and taught extensively, holding tenured faculty positions and working abroad in Italy and across the U.S.

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Since returning to North Carolina in 2012, he has continued his studio practice from Durham while also working in collections care for museums and private collectors. Occasionally, he teaches painting and drawing, sharing his passion for the craft and its rich history.

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Since 1999, Ben Bridgers has actively exhibited his work and participated in the broader arts community through solo and group shows, fellowships, and speaking engagements. He has received several competitive grants and research awards supporting his studio practice and academic pursuits. Bridgers has been invited to share his work and insight at universities, museums, private galleries, and arts organizations across the U.S., including recent engagements in Wyoming, Missouri, Alabama, and North Carolina—reflecting his longstanding commitment to both making and sharing art.

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ARTIST STATEMENT (excerpt):

"My painting practice is rooted in time and transformation—anchored by the tactile, enduring process of paint on canvas. I explore themes drawn from memory, perception, and fleeting sensations, using classical methods to shape spaces that are imagined, observed, and constructed. The work unfolds in the terrain between representation and abstraction, sustained by a deep fascination with the history of paintings.

 

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