James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art | On view now | St. Petersburg, FL

Cultural References

An exhibition currently on view at the James Museum explores the imaginative artwork of Ben Steele.

By Alyssa M. Tidwell

For anyone who’s dipped their toes into the world of art and art history, the paintings of contemporary Western artist Ben Steele will surely spark some “aha” moments. With wit and a playful imagination, Steele uses traditional techniques alongside contemporary sensibilities, creating an exciting conversation between the old and the new. Some paintings clearly reference famed Spanish artist Salvador Dalí, others Pop Art juggernaut Andy Warhol, Renaissance master Michelangelo, and Vermeer’s iconic The Girl with the Pearl Earring.

Russell Coffee, oil on canvas, 30 x 40 in.

Currently on view at the James Museum of Western & Wildlife Art is Ben Steele: A POP of Art!, an exhibition featuring 10 paintings on loan from the Tom and Mary James/Raymond James Financial Art Collection, who have been collecting Steele’s work for two decades.

“Ben Steele’s art combines familiar objects from pop culture and famous art history references like no other,” says Emily Kapes, chief curator at the James Museum. “He has the technical talent to work in many styles and adds clever intention with puns and nostalgia. These paintings make a powerful impact with viewers because of the recognizable imagery they experience in a brand new way.”

Dalí Dairy, oil on canvas, 40 x 50 in.

Kapes reflects on a few highlights in the exhibition, including Double Take, an oil and mixed media piece depicting John Wayne as an Etch A Sketch drawing. “In 1960, the Etch A Sketch debuted as a drawing toy with a ‘magic screen.’ That same year, actor John Wayne sat for this classic headshot photograph. Steele reimagines the portrait ‘drawn’ in the style of a classic Etch A Sketch,” says Kapes.

Western Sauce, oil on canvas, 45 x 30 in.

Surreal Soda, oil on canvas, 36 x 24 in.

Sketching with Sargeant is a trompe l’oeil depicting a haphazardly scribbled coloring book with crayons splayed across the paper. “You might not recognize this coloring book outline, but the crayon box reveals the original artist—American painter John Singer Sargeant. Steele’s ode to Sargeant features an interpretation of his 1889 painting titled An Out-of-Doors Study. The crayons are so realistic, it seems like you could pick them right up,” Kapes adds.

Steele’s Dalí Dairy is one of those paintings where the historical reference hits almost immediately. “This surreal farm scene is crazy good,” says Kapes. “Steele’s cows, with their long spindly legs, are a whimsical interpretation of Salvador Dalí’s dreamlike elephants found in several of his paintings such as The Temptation of St. Anthony[from] 1946.”

Sketching with Sargent, oil on canvas, 55 x 50 in.

The exhibition includes works displayed at Raymond James’ offices in St. Petersburg that are not often seen by the public. The special installation will be presented in the hall next to the Earth and Humanity Foundation Wildlife Gallery.

“These paintings show that Ben Steele is as clever as he is talented,” says Kapes. “The art gives audiences the chance to play along and ask, ‘What famous references do you recognize?’” —