You might say Ben Mollner is a nontraditional artist: The 28-year-old is a practicing dentist, has no formal arts training, and runs his studio out of his living room. In fact, he started painting simply to fill blank wall space in his house. But none of that matters when you’re looking at the Colorado native’s arresting contemporary canvases (each one takes about a month to complete). Composed of severe shapes and bold hues that contrast softer silhouettes, Mollner’s work has a three-dimensional presence. Each painting evokes a strong sense of graphic design, a deliberate result of Mollner’s process: He digitally crafts each piece on a computer before ever lifting a brush. “I would say that my true talent lies more in the graphic end of it,” Mollner says. “I’ve translated that into paint.” benmollner.com

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5280 April 2013
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In person: See Mollner’s work at the Pancakes & Booze Art Show on April 26 at City Hall; pancakesandbooze.com

This article was originally published in 5280 April 2013.
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer
Daliah Singer is an award-winning writer and editor based in Denver. You can find more of her work at daliahsinger.com.