We’re thrilled to welcome a new creative force to the Northern Lights community. Ben Youdan is a dynamic and expressive visual artist from Liverpool with a unique artistic vision which explores identity, culture, and human experience in bold and thought-provoking ways.
Ben’s work encompasses a wide range of mediums, including collage, drawing, painting, printmaking, and photography. His style takes inspiration from popular culture and uses it to challenge traditional narratives surrounding glamour, identity, and sexuality.
Artistic vision and influences
Ben Youdan’s artwork combines the personal and the political. He has a self-confessed fascination with identity and individualism, particularly within urban environments. Drawing from postmodern philosophy and subcultures such as punk and queer movements, Ben’s work challenges the norm. His artistic process embraces a variety of materials and methods to create pieces that feel both handmade and futuristic. A perfect fusion of traditional artistry and the digital age!
Through his work, Ben celebrates diversity and explores themes of sexuality, gender, and the appropriation of space. His art is bold, celebratory, and sex-positive, communicating messages that champion individual freedom and self-expression. From glitter and faux gems to sequins and leatherette, Ben’s materials add texture and depth to his compositions.
Celebrating Queer identity through art
Ben’s work doesn’t shy away from the complexities of queer identity and sexuality, but rather celebrates them with pride and joy. He pulls inspiration from various subcultures, blending references to western art traditions with the spirit of punk and anti-establishment movements.
In one of his recent exhibitions, titled Filth, Ben explores themes of gender identity, leather, and fetish subcultures. The exhibit, which premiered in late 2019 at The Gallery Liverpool (now Space by Liquid), represents a daring and celebratory approach to queer sexuality. It was a significant milestone in Ben’s career, marking his return to the UK after a residency at the Tom of Finland Foundation in Los Angeles. The exhibition conveyed themes of liberation, joy, and sexual expression in a way that resonated with audiences both locally and internationally.
Exhibitions and notable works
Ben has exhibited his work in cities like Berlin, Amsterdam, Manchester, and more. Most recently, he took part in the LGBTQIA+ LIFE exhibition at Brixton Library in London, adding to his growing portfolio of critical and commercial successes. Locally, Ben’s work has been displayed at venues such as FACT, the Everyman, Museum of Liverpool, and Smithdown Social Gallery.
Two of Ben’s works are currently on display in the Museum of Liverpool’s Wondrous Place gallery, which highlights the city’s creative contributions and international influence. One of these is a portrait of Pete Burns, commissioned by the Museum in 2018. Burns is depicted in a dazzling portrait that captures him at the height of Dead or Alive’s popularity. The portrait uses a mix of collage, sequins, faux gems, and glitter, capturing both the glamour and the attitude that Burns embodied.
The second work on display is a portrait of Lady Seanne, an iconic figure in Liverpool’s gay scene. Ben describes Lady Seanne as “a truly unique presence” and celebrates her through this colourful artwork. In describing his approach to capturing drag as an art-form, Ben notes: “Drag is a powerful statement of self-expression. It can be illusionary or real, a mask or a truth. Drag queens are warriors, mothers, sisters, and an intrinsic part of our queer community and cultural identity.”
Explore more of Ben Youdan’s work
Ben’s artwork is a bold, glamorous exploration of queer culture, and his presence at Northern Lights adds another layer to our creative community. His work celebrates diversity in a way that is both visually captivating and socially relevant. Reflecting on his recent move, Ben shared his thoughts on joining our creative hub:
“Moving into Northern Lights has been absolutely incredible. I have only been here a couple of weeks, but I feel I have settled in already. It is wonderful to feel like you are a small part of a hugely inspiring and creative community in a vibrant area. I genuinely feel that it has already impacted my creative practice in a positive way and will continue to help me flourish as an artist. My only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner!”
We are excited to see how Ben’s practice flourishes and how his creative energy influences the community here. Welcome, Ben!
To explore more of Ben Youdan’s work, you can visit his website.
