Wound Up, Winding Down

Ben Skinner is a contemporary Canadian artist who works across sculpture, text-based art, and mixed-media installations. Raised in Petrolia, Ontario, he pursued formal post-secondary education in the fine arts during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary, Alberta, followed by a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Art Institute of Chicago in Illinois.

Skinner's artistic practice centers on the interplay between language, materials, and visual perception. His work frequently incorporates conceptual typography, puns, and idiom-based phrasing executed in unconventional materials, including gold leaf, neon, cast plastics, polyester resin, hand-cut paper, and mirrored glass. Through precise fabrication techniques, his compositions investigate how the physical presentation of words influences their literal and psychological meaning.

After completing his graduate studies, Skinner established a permanent studio in Vancouver, British Columbia. In addition to his studio practice, he has executed large-scale public art installations and custom architectural works across Western Canada. His art has been featured in exhibitions at public institutions and municipal venues, including the Vancouver Art Gallery and the Richmond Art Gallery. He continues to live and work in Vancouver.