Wes Benson in his Kansas City Art Studio
Wes Benson, MFA
SCHOOL OF VISUAL ARTS, NEW YORK CITY
Wes Benson is an American Artist who earned his Masters degree in New York City. His paintings hang in private and public collections across the United States. Wes earned his MFA in Illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. Bachelors degree in the History of Art, University of Kansas. He works out of his studio in the Bauer building in the Crossroads Arts District of Kansas City. WesBenson.com
Wes has an intriguing backstory, from lifelong artist, to drug addict, to paleontological enthusiast (Has searched for and dug up dinosaur remains in Mpntana with a major University for over a decade), to survivor of attempted murder (knife stabbing, Bushwick, Broklyn, NYC), to Mensa member, to alcoholic. Wes has been sober since Feb 27, 2019 and is grateful for each day under the sun.
Wes has shown at many galleries in the Kansas City area and in Bentonville Arkansas. He is currently expanding into other cities.
Wes has taught Drawing, Isometric drawing, The History of Graphic Design, Painting, Perspective, Adobe Photoshop, Illustration and more at the College level. Wes taught at the Kansas City Art Institute and Park University before pursuing a career as a full-time Oil Painter.
Wes is in his seventh year of recovery from alcoholism and opioid abuse. Like many, his taste for opiods grew out of a severe sports injury (ruptured femoral wall of left leg from a very unlikely high-speed impact.) Along with Considering himself a fortunate survivor of extreme drug overdoses, seizures, and multiple bouts of acute pancreatitis, Wes has survived far more, which has added to the way he looks at life…He views each day as an opportunity. (Hence he digs up dinosaurs and writes books. He never stops searching/creating. His favorite saying is “Life is short. Do interesting things.”)
In November of 2011 Police and Emergency responders responded to a call from Troutman St. in Bushwick, Brooklyn where they found a bloodbath.
Wes survived a would-be-murder— a savage beating and 6-inch-deep stabbing by four perpetrators. He was rushed by Ambulance to Forest Hills Hospital in Queens where he spent 17 days in the Intensive Care Unit and underwent multiple traumatic and incredibly-invasive (One which required that his intestines moved temporarily outside of his body so the team of Surgeons could reach a a spot which required further cauterization.) He was not expected to live and was given a 1% chance of surviving.
Wes sustained a 6-inch-deep knife wound in his right kidney area which severed his colon and released two liters of blood onto the crime scene which Detectives later deemed a gang initiation. His blood soaked wallet contained $80 which was not stolen
Wes currently runs an AA Recovery group called Freethinkers KC.
Wes has been interviewed about addiction on Kansas City’s NPR affiliate station, KCUR on the talk show “Up to Date” with host Steve Kraske:
Wes Benson is a major Paleontological enthusiast. Meaning he actually digs up dinosaurs. How? With his hands. With a small elite team from the University of Kansas. Next year will be his thirteenth trip to Montana/North Dakota.
Wes (About seven minutes into the show) has been on CBS Sunday Morning with Martha Teichner:
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=cbs+sunday+t+rex
Wes will also be in a major, Worldwide Paleontological Documentary which debuts in 2022.
Wesley’s artwork hangs on walls and in private collections across the U.S. Wes stubbornly paints whatever he wants to paint. His artistic philosophy is guided exclusively by the daily visual input of his own life. His work is intended to be semi-autobiographical, euphoric, luminous, and optimistic.
Wes has been featured in 435 magazine, The Hills magazine, Leawood magazine and has produced artwork for the Mensa Bulletin, ABC’s Extreme Makeover Home Edition and Dirt Rag magazine. His oil paintings have been shown at Weinberger Fine Art, the Leedy-Voulkos, Art Center, and Flock Salon.
For inquiries, contact Wes Benson by text message.
TEXT!!! (913)638-2914 If you email him he will probably miss it.
Wes is a Humorist and Author of:
“Without the Burden of Sanity.” Wes is a humorist and visual artist.
You can find the riotous literary adventure, Without the Burden of Sanity, on Amazon or Barnes and Noble online.
The Art and Design Journal “Creative Quarterly” recently Awarded Wes Benson “Top 25” in the category of Fine Art for his oil painting entitled “Crushed Diet Coke #1” and will be featured in their “Best 100 of 2022” annual hardback edition.
