Biography
"My works are a culmination of the natural and the manmade - a careful balance of form and motion."
Ben Foster is a New Zealand sculptor, who works full time from his Kaikoura studio, set amidst the dramatic land and seascape of the South Island’s east coast.
The synthesis of natural and manmade elements is central to the sculpture of Ben Foster. His large-scale cast aluminium pieces combine Minimalist aesthetics with organic forms in work that is motivated by both contemporary art philosophies and structures from the natural environment.
Foster began working with metal casting during his formal art education and his expertise has developed through subsequent work in industrial design and fabrication. With this experience, Foster is able to employ many technically demanding production techniques to create his monumental works.
Exhibitions
2011
Laisee: Koru Contemporary Art, Hong Kong
Advent: Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland
Sculpture on the Peninsula: Loudon Homestead, Banks Peninsula
Art in a Garden: Flaxemere Gardens, Canterbury
Locale: Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland
Auckland Art Fair: Viaduct Event Centre, Auckland
12 Walls: Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland
Momentum (Solo Show): Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland
Sculpture in Central Otago: Rippon, Wanaka
2010
Advent: Sanderson Contemporary Art, Auckland
NZ Sculpture OnShore: North Shore, Auckland
Art in a Garden: Flaxemere Gardens, Canterbury
Heartland Sculpture Challenge: Timaru
E-Scape: Sculpture in the Landscape: Waitakaruru Sculpture Park, Hamilton
Ellerslie Sculpture Garden: Ellerslie International Flower Show, Hagley Park. Christchurch
Art in the Woolshed: Tawharanui Regional Park, Auckland
2009
Sculpture in the Park: Waitakaruru Sculpture park, Hamilton
Art in a Garden: Canterbury
Preview: Webb's Gallery, Auckland. Centre of Contempotrary Art, Christchurch. Temple Gallery, Dunedin
2008
Art in a Garden, Canterbury
2006
Wallace Art Awards: Wallace Trust Gallery, Auckland. PATAKA, Museum of Art and Culture, Wellington. Centre of Contemporary Art (COCA), Christchurch
Mac's Sculpture Symposium: Albion Square, Nelson
Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology Graduate Exhibition: The Suter, Nelson
Education
2006 Bachelor of Visual Arts: Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology
1999 National Trade Certificate in Cabinetry: Joinery Industry Training Organisation
Bibliography
>Latitude Magazine - October/November 2011
>Locale - Sanderson Contemporary Art, September 27 2011
Santry, A, Sanderson, K and Darragh, T, The Artists: 21 Practitioners in New Zealand Contemporary Art c. 2011 – 2013, Auckland: Beatnik Publishing, 2011
>Momentum ( Solo Show) Sanderson Contemporary Art, February 2011
>Press Release for The Timaru District Heartland Sculpture Challenge 2010
>Press Release for Ellerslie Sculpture Garden 2010
>Warren Feeney & David Kahn, "Preview 09" Exhibition Catalogue, November 2009
Virginia Were, "Fresh Blood," Art News, Spring 2006, 82.