Greetings from Schenectady: Art by Teddy Benfield ‘15

Curated by Alyssa Adler ‘14

Teddy Benfield, Untitled (Greek Alphabet), 2014, mixed media on canvas, 11 x 9 inches

May 26th – August 7th, 2014

Teddy Benfield is a junior from Mystic, Connecticut, majoring in Visual Arts. Teddy tends to look at our environment in the context of American history as it relates to popular culture. The repeated use of motifs in his work creates his own visual language, and represents his understanding of our national identity. The use of celebrities, such as Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy, creates a storyline within each piece and reflects our generation’s understanding of cultural zeitgeist.

Teddy writes, “I describe my personal style of painting as ‘abstract pop art.’ I get inspiration from a lot of different people and things. Specifically, the street art movement of today with artists such as Retna, Pixote, and Zio Ziegler, and the era of pop art in the 80s and 90s. I began painting my sophomore year here at Union and have been addicted to spending time in the studio and learning more about art and art history as a whole since then.”

About the curator: Union College senior, Alyssa Adler, hails from Farmington, Connecticut. Obtaining a double major this June in studio art and art history, Adler primarily works in oil paint and steel welding. Her previous work experience includes internships in marketing and communications at both the Newport Art Museum in Rhode Island and the Wadsworth Athenaeum in Hartford, Connecticut. Adler’s future career goals include potential gallery or museum work with an extended plan to receive an MBA.