A little background on Ben Tankard

Instagram @ben_tankard_art

I’m a full-time painter, living and working in the lower Blue Mountains, west of Sydney. I have a Bachelor of Arts (Fine Arts) from the University of Western Sydney. My recent works are pop art paintings inspired by Penguin paperback books, board games and playing cards, and I have had success with these in galleries and online. The paintings take well-known and nostalgic imagery and transform them with broad brushstrokes, thick paint built up in layers, and distorted text.

Ben Tankard photo.jpg

2012

  • Finalist in Sulman Prize

  • Finalist in Mosman Prize

  • Finalist in Gosford Art Prize

  • Highly commended in Blacktown City Art Prize

2013  

  •  Finalist in Calleen Art Prize

  • Finalist in Springwood Art Prize

  •  Finalist in Blacktown City Art Prize

  •  Semi-finalist in Doug Moran Portrait Prize 

2014   

  • Finalist in Gallipoli Art Prize

  • Highly Commended in Art in the Hills Art Prize, Oakhill College NSW

2015   

  • ‘Endless Summer’ solo show at Me Artspace, St Leonards, Sydney

  • ‘Guarding the Home Front’ group show at Casula Powerhouse, Sydney

  • Solo show at Norman Lindsay Gallery & Museum, Faulconbridge NSW

  • Finalist in Hawkesbury Art Prize

  • Highly Commended in Blacktown City Art Prize

2016   

  • Finalist in Gallipoli Art Prize

  • ‘Reworked’ solo show for Anala Art Advisory, North Sydney

  • ‘Unpopular Penguins’ solo show at Palette Dining, Katoomba NSW

  • ‘Five Senses’ group show at Virgin Walls, Blackheath NSW

  • ‘Icons Uncovered’ group show at No Vacancy Gallery, Melbourne 

2017   

  • ‘Echoes’ group show at Tortuga Studios, St Peters, Sydney

  • ‘Street Art’ solo show for Anala Art Advisory, Glenbrook NSW

  • ‘Contempa’ solo show at KAB Gallery, Terrigal NSW

  • ‘A Room With A View’ solo show at Michael Reid Murrurundi, NSW

  • ‘Cover Versions’ solo show at Anala Art Advisory, Glenbrook NSW
                

2018   

  • ‘Summer Reading’ solo show at KAB Gallery, Terrigal NSW

  • ‘Imaginary Albums’ group show at Platform Gallery, Katoomba NSW

  • ‘Fake’ group show at Tortuga Studios, St Peters, Sydney

  • ‘Bluethumb Sydney’ group show at M2 Gallery, Sydney

  • Finalist in the Gosford Art Prize

  • Finalist in the ANL Maritime Art Prize

  • Winner of the DP World Emerging Artist Award

2019

  • ‘Collector’s Edition 6’ group show at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba NSW

  • ‘Blue Mountains Portraits’ group show at Blue Mountains Cultural Centre, Katoomba NSW

  • ‘Wish You Were Here’ group show at ME Artspace, St Leonards NSW

  • ‘Constant Reader’ solo show at Michael Reid Murrurundi (August 2019, upcoming)