Ben Zank’s Portraits Teeter Between Surrealism and the Mundane

Tensely contorted or standing pin straight, Ben Zank’s signature faceless subjects evoke ineffable yet familiar emotions.

The New York City-based photographer has a knack for turning ordinary settings and unaccompanied figures into strangely perplexing sights. Mismatched socks, bold garments, and awkward poses go a long way in evoking a visceral response through his lens, tapping into a sort of uncanny realism.

a surreal portrait by photographer Ben Zankn depicting a contorted figure sliding off the edge of a bed

Zank’s work traveled to Festival Cargo Les Photographiques—a.k.a. The Cargo Festival—in Saint-Nazaire, France last summer. Since its debut in 2022, the annual event typically features several outdoor exhibition areas, highlighting contemporary photographers.

The artist’s plein air installation for the festival included large reproductions of images affixed to leaning wooden pallets and covering brick walls. The minimalist, Earth-toned portraits complemented their surroundings, scattered across sparse grounds.

Zank is currently working on a series that is focused on capturing strangers in their own homes, rather than the constructed settings he typically employs. Find more from the artist on Instagram.

an outdoor installation of surreal portraits by photographer Ben Zank
a surreal portrait by photographer Ben Zankn depicting a figure clutching two legs, almost as if he is contorted in a tense way
an outdoor installation of surreal portraits by photographer Ben Zank
a surreal portrait by photographer Ben Zankn depicting a figure fully clothed in a bathtub with bubbles, looking into a mirror
a surreal portrait by photographer Ben Zankn depicting a figure covered in arrow signs
a surreal portrait by photographer Ben Zankn depicting a figure wearing a pair of bold blue pants on his face, with glasses over them

Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Ben Zank’s Portraits Teeter Between Surrealism and the Mundane appeared first on Colossal.

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