Benjamin Francis (b. 1996, SR & NL) graduated from the Fine Arts programme at ArtEZ BEAR, University of the Arts with Base for Experiment, Art, and Research, in Arnhem in 2020.
As a multidisciplinary artist, Francis combines installative object-based work with experimental and participatory performances. Within his practice, he reflects on his lived experience of being corrected for spelling mistakes, due to dyslexia. These dissonances or errors are carefully corrected in our current-day society, as anything outside the norm is deemed unproductive and therefore excluded. Both in his performances and object-based works, the audience is placed in unexpected situations, thus becoming a part of the artwork. Through this interactive process, Francis aims to challenge the dichotomy between ‘right’ and ‘wrong,’ and undermine dominant systems of knowledge. As a result, he seeks to expose the hidden dynamics of power structures. Key questions within his practice consider what such systems are rooted in and who is in the position to dictate them. As such, the recurring themes in Francis’ work include dirt, cleanliness, pedagogy, discipline, authority, and power relations.
Francis often starts from ‘the other’ — (marginalized) bodies that are more heavily subjected to the normative workings of society. He draws from his own experience of being constantly corrected which created a tense relationship with authority figures, such as teachers. The tension between the normative society and his position as a queer person of color is an underlying tendency that intensifies this experience. The ‘cleaning up’ of mistakes, decay, and the dissection of something (both physically and verbally) is — in Francis’ view — what art is fundamentally about.
Since graduating from ArtEZ BEAR, Benjamin has shown at No Man’s Art Gallery, NL; Christine König Galerie, AU; Art Antwerp, BE; Luther Museum, NL; PuntWG, NL; Ballroom Project #6, BE; Hotel Maria Kapel, NL; If I Can’t Dance, Kunsthuis Syb, Het HEM, P/////AKT, NL; W139, NL; MÉLANGE, DE; Rencontres internationales, DE; SECONDroom, BE; and Mutter, NL, amongst others.
Benjamin Francis photographed in his studio, 2024Education
2016-20 2020 Bear ArtEZ, Arnhem, NL (Tutors James Beckett & Edward Clydesdale Thomson)
Solo Exhibitions
2026 Tokyo Arts and Space (Tokas), Tokyo, JP 2026 SOLO.PROJECTSPACE, Bucharest, RO 2026 UNFAIR26, Amsterdam, NL 2025 De Singel, Antwerp, BE
2025 SECONDroom, Antwerp, BE
2025 JUNE Art Fair, with No Man's Art Gallery, Basel, CH
2025 A foot between the door, No Man's Art Gallery, Amsterdam, NL
2025 Am I, an Object?, Christine König Galerie at KOENIG2, Vienna, AU
2024 Am i an Object?, Punt WG, Amsterdam, NL
2023 MÉLANGE, Cologne, DE
2022 Singular Art Gallery, Zero, Nijmegen, NL
2022 A body without it's Flesh, Hotel Maria Kapel, Hoorn, NL
2021 Crypt, SECONDroom, Antwerp, BE
2021 The removal of the eye, P/////AKT, Amsterdam, NL
2021 A body without it's flesh, P/////AKT, Amsterdam, NL
Group Exhibitions
2026 Art Brussels (duo booth presentation with RojoNegro), No Man’s Art Gallery, BE (upcoming) 2026 Prospects, Art Rotterdam, NL 2026 Valkhof Museum, Nijmegen, NL 2026 Kunstplatform Link, Zwolle, NL 2026 CBK, Zuidoost, NL 2025 Minor Attractions, The Mandrake Hotel, London, UK
2025 Wild Summer of Art, Brutus, Rotterdam, NL
2024 Art Rotterdam, duo booth with Tobias Thaens, with No Man's Art Gallery, Rotterdam, NL
2024 The Spirit of Amsterdam, with performance 'A Claim for Your Own Good', Luther Museum, Amsterdam, NL
2024 Art Antwerp, with Season 4 Episode 6, Antwerp, BE
2024 Ballroom Project #6, with No Man's Art Gallery, Antwerp, BE
2023 (Video Library), Rencontres Internationales, Paris/Berlin, FR/DE
2023 Open Rehearsal, If I Can't Dance, Amsterdam, NL
2023 Limassol Art Walks, JOEY RAMONE, Cyprus, CZ
2023 Mutter Biennale 'Halloween', Kunsthuis SYB, Beetsterzwaag, NL
2022 The Sybren Hellinga Art Prize, curated by Titus Nouwens, Kunsthuis SYB, Beetsterzwaag, NL
2022 Detail, curated by Rieke Leonie, Het HEM, Zaandam, NL
2022 Show me what you got, Nieuw en Meer, Amsterdam, NL
2022 Tinimini Room, Dordrecht, NL
2021 Blood / Sea, Mutter, Amsterdam, NL
2021 The Endless Echo of a Closing Door, duo with Tessa Langeveld, P/////AKT, Amsterdam, NL 2021 All In, Het HEM, Zaandam, NL
2021 Love For Sale, W139, Amsterdam NL
2021 AllélOn, Maundy, London, UK
2020 Productiehuis Plaatsmaken, curated by Fleur Lamers, Arnhem, NL
2020 Omstand Arnhem, curated by Fleur Lamers, Arnhem, NL
Press/ Interviews/ Publication
2026 'Mannenbeelden', Metropolis M Nummer 1-2026, Magazine
2025 KUNST IS LANG, Aflevering 337 - Benjamin Francis, Luuk Heezen & Mister Motley, Spotity
2025 Benjamin Francis: a correction of the norm, by Flor Linckens, Art Rotterdam Online Article
2024 Hoe zou het leven eruitzien als de doden met ons kunnen praten?, by Benjamin Francis, Mister Motley
2023 Day Of The Young Artist, Panel Talk curated by Helana Julien, De Pont
2022 Benjamin Francis - 'A Body Without Its Flesh' - Hotel Maria Kapel - Hoorn, KUNSTBLIJFTEENRAADSEL
2022 Sedimentatie en Erosie, by Laura van Grinsven, Mister Motley
2022 Evening of conversations and interventions, Sybren Hellinga Art Prize, ROZENSTRAAT
2022 Artist Talk, with Anik Fournier, Hotel Maria Kapel
2022 The Real (E)State: On the Fate of Artistic and Cultural Spaces in the City, by Manuela Zammit, Metropolis M 2021 Witte badkamertegels, een mashup van Rembrandt & Obelix en andere galerietips, by Hans den Hartog Jager, NRC
2021 Six questions for Benjamin Francis, Tique
2021 HUB3: Untitled Yet, Talk with Benjamin Francis, Krista Jantowski and Jessica Tiemessen, ArtEZ Hub
2021 Benjamin Francis at P/////AKTPOOL / Amsterdam, Daily Lazy
2021 THE REMOVAL OF THE EYE by BENJAMIN FRANCIS at P////AKT at P/////AKTPOOL, YYYYMMDD
2021 Postcards from the edge, Art Viewer 021 Rondje P/////AKT, by Najiba Brakkee, Trendbeheer
2021 Blood/Sea, KubaParis
2021 BODY ECSTATIC BODY ECLECTIC BODY ECCENTRIC, ULAY Foundation, e-flux Announcements
2020 Eindexamen Expositie; ArtEZ BEAR Arnhem 2020, by Niek Hendrix, Lost Painters
2020 Eindexamenpresentaties, KUNSTBLIJFTEENRAADSEL
Residencies
2026 Tokyo Art and Space (Tokas), JP 2025 De Singel, Antwerpen, BE
2022 Hotel Maria Kapel, NL
2022 Het HEM, Zaandam, NL
2018 Künstlerhäuser Worpswede
Nominations/ Prizes
2025 Mondriaan Fonds
2024 Best booth at Art Antwerp, with Season 4 Episode 6
2023 Stichting Niemeijerfonds
2023 Stichting Stokroos 2022 Amarte fonds