Benjamin Work


Benjamin Work is an artist from New Zealand with Tongan and Scottish heritage. He is well known for his paintings, murals and sculptures inspired by his genealogy back to Tonga.

Work

Drawing on his Tongan heritage, Work began to explore new directions in his art over the last decade. Inspired by the iconography found on Tongan treasures such as ngatu, fala, and 'akau tau, his refined, graphic paintings aimed to find new spaces and ways for audiences to engage with Tonga's visual culture. Work's art found a home both inside institutions and on the streets.
Work has developed a deep interest in and conducted extensive research on aspects of Tongan history and culture, and reuses Tongan traditions and symbols into his artwork. Work is part of the urban art movement and has exhibited in Australia, Mexico, New Zealand, United States, Cook Islands, and Tonga. In 2015, Work co-curated a display at the Auckland Museum with portraits from Tonga representing the royal lines of Tu’i Tonga, Tu’i Ha’atakalaua and Tu’i Kanokupolu. In 2021, he created a big 330-square-metre mural Motutapu II across the floor and up two walls of Canterbury Museum inspired by the distinctive carved patterns on Tongan ‘akau tau in the museum’s collection. In 2023, he curated Tukufakaholo, Tongan Contemporary, at Bergman Gallery, featuring 8 Tongan artists from Auckland.

Awards

Selected residencies

Selected solo and collaborative exhibitions

Work's work are held public and private collections throughout New Zealand, such as in Auckland Museum, Canterbury Museum, and The Arts House Trust.

Selected group exhibitions

Publications

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