“I can truly relate
to the early pioneers, ranchers, and cowboys because in
essence my family did the same thing. We started a horse
ranch in the middle of the dusty great plains of Texas.
Miles of cotton fields surrounded us on an infinite flat
horizon line. The weather was sometimes very intense.
We use to watch tornados dance across the plains. We had
one tree in the backyard that managed to survive, and
we were able to grow grass in the pastures for the horses.
We lived a life of rugged independence with the belief
that anything is possible if you work hard enough.
While growing up, I found that I had a passion for and
excelled in the arts. By age 8, I knew that I wanted to
pursue a lifelong quest to use my creative talents. I
knew my purpose.
Because of financial difficulties, our horse ranch was
sold while I was in college. I was the typical “starving
artist” and student responsible for all of my expenses.
I realized that anything could be taken away from us at
any time. What is truly important is not the possessions
that we acquire, but who we become and how we benefit
others.”
-Benjamin Knox
 BACKGROUND:
BENJAMIN CLARENCE KNOX was born April 3, 1968, in Lubbock,
Texas. He was named after both of his grandfathers. Both
were oilmen from Graham, Texas and had passed away before
his birth. Benjamin grew up west of Lubbock on his mother’s
horse ranch with two older sisters. His parents divorced
when he was six, and his childhood was sometimes lonely
and troubled. He also had to overcome Dyslexia, where
one sees images and words backwards. He was greatly influenced
by comic books, science fiction magazines, and movies
because they were the only art forms that he was exposed
to. Benjamin self-published Fantasy Magazine at age 13.
It was full of Benjamin’s drawings and stories about
science fiction and superheroes. It helped him become
editor of The Frenship High School Newspaper as a freshman.
He also made science fiction films with his friends and
sang solos at every choir event since the second grade.
Benjamin transferred to Monterey High School in Lubbock
as a sophomore and graduated in 1986. He was the starting
tailback for the football team and won the top award for
architectural drafting in Texas his junior and senior
years. After the oil crash of the 80’s, he was financially
responsible for his education. He attended Texas A&M
University because of the aid of several scholarships.
He officially began his art career as a sophomore in 1988
out of financial necessity. His campus dorm room was his
first studio/gallery. He completed the Corps of Cadets
in 1990, took a year off from college to develop his art,
and then graduated in 1993 with a degree in Environmental
Design in the College of Architecture. Soon after, he
designed and opened College Station’s first and
only artist’s owned gallery. In 2001, he brought
back one of the most important buildings in the history
of College Station and Texas A&M University- The College
Station train depot (1883-1966). He designed and built
the facility to be his gallery and a cultural center for
the community. Texas Governor Rick Perry dedicated the
facility on September 28, 2001.
[back to top]
ACCOMPLISHED:
 Of
his many accomplishments, Benjamin Knox was chosen to
be the artist for the dedication of the George Bush Presidential
Library and Museum Store to create the first day covers
(with the U.S. Postal Service), fine art prints, and note
cards. He met presidents and celebrities and several now
have his artwork. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger wrote
Benjamin the following letter:
“The entire day was wonderful, and I cannot think
of a better way to remember it than by having these incredible
pieces of art. I will display the paintings in a place
where I can admire them frequently.” Benjamin’s
artwork is in the collection of many heads of state,
business leaders, celebrities, professional athletes,
and institutions. Several hundred of his paintings and
drawings have been published as art prints, in books
and magazines, and as commemorative items. The Governor
and the Secretary of State of Texas use his art print,
The Texas State Capitol, as the official gift of Texas
to give to dignitaries and distinguished guests of Texas.
He was asked to design the Native Texan license plate
for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas with the
proceeds benefiting the Alamo. He created the official
150th anniversary print for Baylor University and the
125th anniversary print for Texas A&M University,
kicking off a $125,000 presidential endowed scholarship.
The Texas A&M Class of 1998 commissioned Benjamin
to create their class gift to the university, a giant
painting entitled Silvertaps. It commemorates the 100th
year anniversary of a hollowed tradition that honors
students and faculty members who have died while at
Texas A&M. Fine art prints of the painting are used
as a memorial to honor students who pass away while
attending Texas A&M and are given to their families.
[back to top]
PHILANTHROPIST:
Benjamin is the leader in promoting higher education
through fine art in America and possibly the world.
He personally signs and donates art prints to all scholarship
fundraising and charitable events. He has contributed
to and started a staggering number of scholarships and
endowments. Thousands of students have received financial
assistance to attend college because of his donations.
Benjamin was once a struggling student himself that
benefited from scholarships, therefore he believes that
others that are less fortunate, but ambitious to succeed,
should have the same opportunities that he had. He also
feels that they should continue the cycle of giving
back to the next generation.
[back to top]
 ADVENTURER:
Benjamin is an expert extreme snow skiier, mountain
biker, and kayaker. He has traveled to almost all 5o
states in pursuit of creating artwork for unique places
and the Collegiate Top 50-The Most Spirited Universities
in the United States. He has lived in a 34-foot motor
home (his traveling studio), on beaches, and in the
mountains. He survived an avalanche in Crested Butte,
Colorado that demolished his condo/studio while he was
in it! He is an adventurer and constantly travels the
world immersing himself in different cultures and places
of inspiration. He shares these experiences through
his work with the hope to inspire and educate.
[back to top]
DIVERSIFIED:
Benjamin Knox is a very diverse and young artist. His
interests in nature, history, architecture, music, and
sports are exhibited in the many facits of his creative
works. Benjamin’s talents go beyond painting and
drawing. He also has been involved with the creation
of several book projects and is a writer as well. As
a building designer, he has a special sensitivity to
nature, and the site. He allows time to design one building
project per year. He also works with a music producer
in Los Angeles, California in developing his musical
style that he calls soundscapping- an impassioned atmospheric
combination of piano, guitar, voice, and synthesizers.
He is now in the learning stages of film development,
something that has intrigued him since childhood, and
plans to develop those skills more in the future. He
feels that he has several unique ideas and creative
viewpoints that will have mass appeal in feature films.
Benjamin is a man driven by his passion to create and
share with others. He believes that all art forms are
inter-connected, and is devoted to a lifetime of developing
all of his talents to their full potential.
[back to top]
|
