Inspired by nature | Bored with convention | Determined to make a difference
In 2003 – at the height of the digital camera revolution – Benjamin left home with a film camera determined to create a groundbreaking body of photographic art.
As a completely self-taught photographer with limited funds, the following 18 months became his proving ground. He traveled more than 30,000 miles on a shoestring budget, spent less than five nights in a hotel room, and rationed his food to save money for film.
Broke from his travels, in 2005 Benjamin borrowed money to frame and debut his initial works in three art galleries across the Carolinas. He also submitted his best pieces to juried exhibits in some of the world’s most prestigious museums. Less than two years later, three of his pieces had won international recognitions; two were hanging in the Smithsonian, and one at the Natural History Museum of London-he was only 23 years old.
Benjamin built upon his critical acclaim and in 2010 opened his first signature gallery in his hometown of Bristol, TN/VA. Four years later, two more of his pieces were exhibited at the Smithsonian, and four more new pieces were selected as finalists at the Natural History Museum of London.
In 2015, Benjamin founded WALLSabout Luxury Travel – an ambitious start-up designed to take his growing collector base to experience nature in style while funding key ecotourism initiatives. Barely a year later, in 2016, Benjamin’s work was selected for a large-scale solo exhibit at the Tennessee State Museum. The expansive 6000-ft2 exhibit inspired the creation of his coffee table book, BEYOND, which was published in 2017 and features a foreword by Dolly Parton.
By 2019, Benjamin had decided it was time to expand beyond the borders of Bristol, and opened his second signature gallery location in Asheville, NC. This location features the addition of WALLS Wine Bar which offers sustainable and organic wines to compliment the overall WALLS experience.
Today, Benjamin’s artistic vision and ambitious conservation agenda continue to be fueled ever higher by his expanding collector base, exceptional team, and entrepreneurial spirit. When asked what lies ahead, he would say “hold on to your hat, we are just getting started”.
Benjamin has now hosted 7 separate events in 3 states to benefit the last Northern White Rhinos and/or The Ol Pejeta Conservancy. To date the WALLS Brands have exceeded $200,000 raised or directly paid to benefit this cause. See more conservation milestones here
Founder of four successful startups!
Taking a condemned building and transforming it into one of the most awarded historic properties in Bristol, as Benjamin says – “I believe that profitability and historic preservation are not mutually exclusive. In fact, historic preservation conserves resources, reduces waste, and saves money by repairing and reusing.”
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