Today we’d like to introduce you to Ben Copperwheat.
Hi Ben, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I grew up in Caddington, a small village 30 miles north of London. My childhood wasn’t easy—I faced bullying throughout my school years until I left at 16. Art and design became my refuge; whenever I was drawing, I felt free and transported to my own world. I started around age eight with Disney characters, and by my teens, I was creating portraits of Madonna and other pop stars.
After leaving school, I reluctantly joined my father in engineering. Despite always wanting to attend art college, I spent two years working in a factory, which led to depression. At 18, I finally came out as gay. This marked a turning point—my parents encouraged me to pursue what I truly loved. I applied to the local community college where I completed a two-year National Diploma in ceramics and surface pattern design.
This program ignited my passion for screen printing and surface design, launching my career in textiles. I continued my education at Bath Spa University, studying the Creative Arts program with a focus on fine art and textile design. I specialized in screen-printed textiles, dye technology, and fine art screen printing—thoroughly enjoying this immersive experience with print and dye processes.
After graduating from Bath, I was accepted into the prestigious Royal College of Art’s MA textile program, specializing in printed textiles. These two years gave me the opportunity to refine my focus and perfect my craft.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
In 2003, I moved to New York City and within just two months secured my first design position as a print designer at Calvin Klein Jeans. I remained there full-time for five years until 2008, when I left to launch my own fashion line with my cousin, Lee Copperwheat.
From 2009 to 2012, we presented five seasons at New York Fashion Week—a period that proved incredibly challenging both financially and emotionally. This experience was tremendously educational, particularly in developing tenacity and resilience.
Creating collections from the ground up with minimal funding while collaborating with a family member taught me invaluable lessons in patience and perseverance.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I’m Ben Copperwheat, a multidisciplinary artist working across fine art, wearable art, and interior concepts. My work is characterized by vibrant colors, bold graphic imagery, and intricate screen printing techniques—what many have come to recognize as my signature riot of rainbow and neon hues.
My professional journey began in London, where I exhibited my early paintings at Studio Voltaire alongside artists like Holly Johnson and Erdem Moralioglu. After relocating to New York in 2003, I expanded my creative practice into fashion and textile design, developing print collections and providing design direction for global brands including Gucci, Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, and 3.1 Phillip Lim.
One of my proudest achievements was co-founding the avant-garde menswear line COPPERWHEAT with my cousin Lee in 2009. We presented five distinctive collections during New York Fashion Week that merged my hand-printed designs with Lee’s tailoring expertise, receiving recognition from Vogue Italia and Surface Magazine.
In recent years, my artistic journey has evolved to include more exhibition work, such as participating in the Interface exhibition at the Leslie Lohman Museum and joining Patricia Field’s Art/Fashion collective. This collaboration led to exciting opportunities at events like Art Basel Miami and a commissioned mural for Luisa Via Roma in Florence.
What truly sets my work apart is my unique visual language—a distinctive aesthetic that has attracted commissions from figures like Beyoncé, Boy George, and Liza Minnelli. I believe my ability to move fluidly between fine art and commercial applications while maintaining a consistent artistic vision is what distinguishes my practice.
Currently, I’m channeling my passion and expertise into education as a Professor of Fibers at the Savannah College of Art & Design, where I help nurture the next generation of creative talent while continuing to develop my own artistic practice.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bencopperwheat.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bencopperwheat/
