Ben Walters shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Ben, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
This question highlights one of the things that I enjoy about using an analog camera and shooting on film. Film is costly and the results may vary, so it forces me to be deliberate and patient with every shot. I’m always glad when I take my time and it shows when I snap a hasty photo on the fly. Acting fast isn’t always ideal.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Ben Walters and I’m a multimedia artist based in Kansas City, MO. I practice working between both analog and digital mediums including photography, illustration, linocut block printing, painting, collage, and anything else that catches my attention. A recurring theme throughout much of my work is classic cars. I’ve recently shown work in a number of local galleries and continue to apply for open calls for artists. I have a concept for a gallery I’d like to open some day tucked away in the aspirational part of my mind, and I hope at some point I’ll have the resources to bring that to fruition.
My recent accomplishments in artistic pursuits include:
– AIGA KC A-20 Design for Good award nomination (2025)
– Kansas City Parade of Hearts Project (2024)
– AIGA KC A-19 outstanding photography award (2024)
– Vulpes Bastille student gallery exhibition (2025)
– 80 Santa Fe Gallery “Color Pops” exhibition (2025)
– 80 Santa Fe Gallery “Beyond the Canvas” exhibition (2025)
– Kansas City Artists Coalition Sketchbook Project (2025)
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
As a kid I believed I could immediately do anything I saw somebody else do. A wrestling move, a skateboard trick, a drawing; anything was possible. I still believe that, with a caveat. It’s going to require time and patience and effort to accomplish the things I see other people accomplish. I can’t just step on a skateboard and expect to land a 360 shove-it on the first try. I can’t pick up a pen and emulate the illustrations of Escher effortlessly. What I can do is learn. Thats my responsibility to myself as an adult. Keep learning.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
I spent a lot of time working on a project that would become a huge part of my art career starting around 2017. Over three years I submitted a total of 36 different designs for the Pabst Blue Ribbon art can design contest. I almost didn’t want to try again on the third year, but it introduced a unique opportunity. It was the 10th anniversary of the contest and Pabst was offering ten grand prizes as opposed to just one previous. I locked in and worked harder than ever to submit as many as I could before the deadline. My work was chosen and became an official Pabst Blue Ribbon beer can design in 2022. I keep trying until I achieved my goal and it was incredibly rewarding. That kickstarted my tenacity for creating and sharing my work with the world.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I once heard an anecdote about Steve Jobs learning from his father that when building a cabinet he should take the time to make the inside look just as good as the outside. That is a dedication to quality workmanship that I appreciate and aspire to myself. I paint the edges of my canvases. I align mounting tape symmetrically on the backing of photos. I try to make sure that my work is authentic and shows that care was taken in its creation, even if it remains unseen by anyone else.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What are you doing today that won’t pay off for 7–10 years?
I’m working two jobs while pursuing a degree part time and finding time to fit in creative projects and gallery showings on the side. I balance art, exercise, a relationship, hobbies, work, school, and recreation for the sake of living my best life. Some of those things provide immediate gratification while others are an investment in my future well-being. Some provide both. I have a multi-part project I’ve been working on for over a year that is enjoyable to make progress on piece by piece, but also will be gratifying to complete and present as a whole. In 7-10 years I’ll be working on something that builds on what I’m doing right now.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tandemsegue.bigcartel.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tandemsegue?igsh=MThraHBqbGRtcTAxZw%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-walters-7199184a?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@tandemsegue?si=jJ5lrQkr1VmtHhGw
