Ben Wilson
1963– · British chewing-gum painter and wood sculptor, outsider artist
Ben Wilson (born in Cambridge, 1963) is a British artist associated with outsider art, best known for painting chewing gum stuck to pavements. He grew up in Barnet, north London, in a family of artists; his father worked in painting, ceramics and performance art. Wilson studied art at Middlesex University but left, finding the overanalysis of formal art education unappealing, and preferred to carve found wood, as he had done as a child.
His work grew out of a dislike of industrial waste, cars and litter. After carving sculptures in woodland, many of which were vandalised, he had already painted over billboards to beautify the urban environment, which brought him trouble with the law. Painting gum required no gallery or permit, and did not deface property, since the gum had already been discarded. He has worked on it full-time since 2004 and has made more than 10,000 pieces, mostly in Muswell Hill. He heats the gum, coats it in acrylic enamel and seals each work with a clear lacquer. His paintings and sculptures have been shown in Finland, Germany, Ireland, France and Serbia, among other countries.
His legacy lies in urban commentary and community connection: he takes requests without charge, is a local figure, and his work has been covered by British and international media.