Ben Volta (b. 1979, Abington, PA) creates detailed public murals and sculptures, focusing on education, restorative justice, and urban planning. He believes art can inspire change in both individuals and the institutions around them.
Ben, a 2015 Pew Fellow, earned a sculpture certificate from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 2002 and a BFA from the University of Pennsylvania in 2005, where he also completed graduate coursework in art history and design. After graduating, Ben began working with Philadelphia public schools, creating participatory art rooted in an exploratory and educational process. Over the past 18 years, he has partnered with schools, art organizations, and communities to develop this collaborative process. He has received funding to work in over 50 schools on hundreds of projects integrating art with math, science, and reading. For 20 years, Ben was also a member of the groundbreaking New York art collective Tim Rollins and K.O.S.
In 2016 Ben founded Mural Provisions as an extension of his studio so that he can consult, fabricate and collaborate with others working on murals and public art. link to MuralProvisions.com
Select Public Art Projects + Mural Provisions Highlights
2024
+ "Promethean Sparks" Exhibition and mural project with The Cultural Programs of The National Academy of Sciences, Mural Arts Philadelphia and Alain Locke Elementary School (Philadelphia and Washington DC)
+ Mural Provisions / lead mural consultant and fabricator for artist Jeffery Gibson’s exhibit “the space in which to place me” U.S. Pavilion at the 60th Venice Biennale (Venice, Italy)
2023
+ “Ocean Songs” Large mural project with Mural Arts Philadelphia for Alexander Adaire Public School (Philadelphia, PA)
+ Mural Provisions / lead mural consultant and fabricator for artist Tomokazu Matsuyama’s Houston Bowery wall (NYC)
2022
+ “United by Emotions” Panasonic Center, Tokyo / Mosaic mural in Saiki, Japan: U.S.-Japan Creative Artists Fellowship Program, funded by the Japan-U.S. Friendship Commission and the National Endowment for the Arts: public art project with the Pacific Kids Mural Foundation and Bache Martin Elementary School (Philadelphia + Tokyo, Saiki, Japan)
2020 - 2021
+ "Frequencies: Edison + Morrison" Facebook Data Center (New Albany, Ohio)
+ Small Town Big Art, Public art in Wailuku, collaboration with 300 6th grade students at the Iao School (Maui, Hawaii)
2019
+ “Thoreau’s Ensemble”: Public Art for Colts Neck Underpass, Public Art Reston, Mural on aluminum composite paneling – created with 650 youth, Seniors and community members (Reston, VA) Named one of CODAworx Top 100 for the 2020 CODAawards
2018
+ “Synaptic Garden”: 3 large murals for the Comcast Technology Center (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Parts Per Million”: 14000 sq/ft mural for South Philadelphia High School, with Mural Arts Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
2017
+ “Neuron Garden”: Direct to Glass printing on for 3 wind shelters at Crandford Train Station, with New Jersey Transit (Crandford, NJ)
+ “Moxie Roots”: 12000 sq/ft ceiling mural for Roxborough High School, with Mural Arts Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Diligence”: interior mural for the Free Library of Philadelphia, Tacony Branch, with Percent for Art (Philadelphia, PA) Named one of Americans for the Arts Public Art Network Year in Review best public art projects of 2018
2016
+ “Pattern Process”, solo exhibition at The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Kaleidoscope Cove”, interactive solo exhibition, Family in Residence at the Delaware Art Museum (Wilmington, DE)
+ “Bloom”: 3300 sq. ft. mural with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Restorative Justice GUILD (Philadelphia, PA)
2015
+ “Celestial Cascade”: suspended sculpture for the McLaughlin Youth Facility, with the Alaska State Council on the Arts (Anchorage, AK)
+ “Frequencies”: 3600 sq. ft. mural project, in partnership with The Franklin Institute, chemists at DOW Paint Quality Institute, the Lenfest Center, and the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (Philadelphia, PA)
2014
+ “Micro to Macro”: 12,000 sq. ft. mural, wrapping Morton McMichael School, with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Amplify”: 4700 sq. ft. mural for Union Transfer music venue, with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Restorative Justice GUILD (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Coordinates of Play”: ceiling installation for Pleasant Playground, with Percent for Art (Philadelphia, PA)
2013
+ “Emoji Energy”: digital and screen-printed fence wrap for the PECO Callowhill substation, with the Asian Arts Initiative, Artplace America, and The Fabric Workshop and Museum (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Historical Catalysts”: exhibit at the National Academy of Sciences (Washington, DC)
+ “We Are All Neurons”: mural wrapping a SEPTA train on the Market-Frankford line, a City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Local Emerging Artist Project (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Coral Lace,” ceiling sculpture installation for the emergency room waiting area; “Medicinal Forest, Medicinal Mountains,” pair of 8’ x 20’ murals with digital displays on the 2nd and 3rd floors, at the Rockwell Group’s Cohen Children’s Medical Center, with Pentimenti Gallery and Museum Editions (New Hyde Park, NY)
2012
+ “Written in Wood”: mural for the Center for Art in Wood, with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program Restorative Justice GUILD (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Tectonic Quilt”: mural on Hosho paper at The Philadelphia International Airport, With the City of Philadelphia Percent for Art Program and Grover Washington Middle School (Philadelphia, PA)
2005 – 2011
Selected Exhibitions and Public Art
+ “The Constellation”: public art for the Glen Elm Library, Dunlop Gallery (Regina, SK, Canada)
+ “Love Invaders”: vinyl graphic installation wrapping the JFK Welcome Center at Love Park, with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Delphi Programs (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Shape Invaders”: vinyl graphic installation wrapping the exterior windows of the School District of Philadelphia Education Center (Philadelphia, PA), the windows of the Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts (Wilmington, DE), and a large interior wall at the Central Branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Home that Was,” 3 story mural with the City of Philadelphia Mural Arts Program (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “STEAM”: Solo exhibit showcasing five years of art, science and math projects created with Grover Washington Jr. Middle School, at the Esther Klein Gallery, The Science Center (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Paperpattern Colorculture,” Solo exhibit, Pentimenti Gallery (Philadelphia, PA)
+ “Elletrostatica,” Solo exhibit, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, (Wilmington, DE)
Selected Education, Community AND Collaborative Initiatives
+ Artist in Residence at Grover Washington Jr Middle School for consecutive 7 years (Philadelphia, PA)
+ Arts Bridges and Arts Link Pilot Programs, Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership and the United States Department of Education Office of Innovation and Improvement. School District of Philadelphia, for consecutive 6 years (Philadelphia, PA)
+ Art Futures and Art Partners Residencies, Philadelphia Museum of Art for consecutive 6 years (Philadelphia, PA)
+ SHORT FILM: “Art Action at Love Park,” Philadelphia Museum of Art Summer Film Program, with the Big Picture Alliance, Nueva Esperanza Academy, and Taller Puertorriqueño, (Philadelphia, PA)
+ Art and Community Residency, Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts, with the Delaware School for the Deaf, (Newark, DE)
Select Professional Experience
+ 2016 - 2024: Guest Lecturer at the University of Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA)
+ 2016: “Girotondo”, artist residency, UNIDEE - Cittadellarte, Fondazione Pistoletto, (Biella, Italy)
+ 2016: PAEA Conference, keynote speaker (Philadelphia, PA)
+ 2016: Steamship Conference at the Drexel ExCite Center, keynote speaker (Philadelphia, PA)
+ 2015: Second Chance Act National Conference, panelist and presenter (Washington DC)
+ 2014: Moscow Cultural Forum, panelist and presenter (Moscow, Russia)
+ 2014: Creative Mornings, October presenter on the theme of color (Philadelphia, PA)
+ 2013: The CHAMP Conference at the National Academy of Sciences, presenter (Washington DC)
+ 2009–10: Grant Panelist for the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts "Arts in Education" program (Harrisburg, PA)
+ 2007–13: Consultant for teacher workshops with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, School District of Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Arts in Education Partnership
+ 2010 Presenter and Panelist at the National Art Education Association (NAEA) National Convention (Baltimore, MD)
+ 2009 Presenter and Panelist at the Association of American Museums Annual Meeting and Museum Expo, Pennsylvania Convention Center (Philadelphia, PA)
Select Press and Publications
+ 2024 "Promethean Sparks" Issues in Science and Technology, Journal of the National Academies
+ 2021 “Looking Inward to Reach Outward” Issues in Science and Technology, Journal of the National Academies
+ 2020 “International Artistic Exchange Thriving during COVID Pandemic” Jason Morgan, Japan Forward
+ 2020 “Supporting the Tokyo Olympics with art, Children of Saiki City participate in work production” Oita Press
+ 2020 PENN Graduate School of Education Magazine, Urban Education (Cover)
+ 2019 “‘Thoreau’s Ensemble’ to put Reston ‘on the public art world map” Fairfax County Times
+ 2019 Forecast for Public Art, Public Art Review #59.
+ 2018 “Colorful, complex, proud: Telling the story of S. Philadelphia HS through public art” Kristen Graham, Philadelphia Inquirer
+ 2018 Off the Shelf – A Magazine of the Free Library of Philadelphia (Feature)
+ 2018 PENN Graduate School of Education Magazine, Leaders in Education (Cover)
+2017 “Mural Master, Ben Volta talks about making giant public paintings” Scholastic Art
+ 2017 “REBUILDING COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE Tacony’s new library spurs hopes of a neighborhood reborn” Malcolm Burnley, Plan Philly
+ 2015 “Articulate with Jim Cotter” Episode 7, WHYY TV Series
+ 2014 “Art for Excellence's Sake” Natalie Pompilio, Philadelphia Inquirer
+ 2014 “Artist Feature” National Geographic Traveler magazine, December
+ 2014 "Ville d'art & d'histoire" Voyage de Luxe, No. 62
+ 2014 “Mantua Hopes Art Will Rebuild the Neighborhood” Tommy Rowan, Metro
+ 2013 Issues in Science and Technology, Journal of the National Academies
+ 2012 “Convergence: The Art Collection of the National Academy of Sciences” JD Tallasek and Alana Quinn, Cultural Programs at the National Academy of Sciences (CPNAS)
+ 2011 “Adding Art to Educational Basics can be Scientific Approach” Peter Crimmins, WHYY, Newsworks
+ 2011 “Students, Artist Create Mural” Kerry Benjoe, Regina Leader-Post
+ 2010 “Art and Science Merge” Edward L. Kenney, Delaware News Journal
+ 2010 “Issues in Science and Technology” Journal of the National Academies