Christopher Joshua Benton is an American based in Abu Dhabi and Boston, working in artistic research and installation. He works closely with communities to instigate collaboration and share stories of power, labor, and hope. Inspired by his 9 years living in the United Arab Emirates, Christopher investigates traces of the homeland in the diaspora.

 

Past projects have been presented at museums, biennials and art fairs around the world including the Fikra Graphic Design Biennial (Sharjah, UAE), Abu Dhabi Art: Beyond Emerging (Venice Bienniale) and Dubai Design Week. Further projects have been exhibited at Jameel Arts Centre (Dubai, UAE); Warehouse421 (Abu Dhabi, UAE); Aicon Gallery (NYC, USA); and BLOCKHOUSE (Tokyo, Japan), among others. His art and research have been featured on the BBC and in outlets like Dezeen, GQ, Architectural Digest, and Harper's Bazaar Art. You can find his writing and art criticism in Identity, Tribe Photo Magazine, and Global Art Daily.

 

Christopher is a graduate of University of Georgia and has completed programs and fellowships with University of Oxford as a Gilman Scholar and Rhode Island School of Design. He is currently pursuing a master's degree in Art, Culture, and Technology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through the generous support of the Salama Bint Hamdan Al Nahyan Foundation. He is the former creative director of Huawei.