{"id":2115195,"date":"2026-08-27T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-08-26T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2115195"},"modified":"2026-08-27T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-08-26T21:00:00","slug":"pattern-and-bold-saturated-color-commingle-in-ben-sledsens-rhythmic-paintings","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2115195","title":{"rendered":"Pattern and Bold, Saturated Color Commingle in Ben Sledsens\u2019 Rhythmic Paintings"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"entry-content prose-colossal max-w-none\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull is-style-default entry-header is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure class=\"colo-post-featured-image wp-block-post-featured-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1528\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-4.jpg\" class=\"attachment-post-thumbnail size-post-thumbnail wp-post-image\" alt=\"a painting by ben sledsens of a swan in a pond surrounded by lush green foliage\" style=\"object-fit:cover\"><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cSwan and the Willow\u201d (2025-2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 190 x 250 centimeters. All images courtesy of Courtesy of Tim Van Laere Gallery, shared with permission<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group post-title is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-0bc941e6 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h1 class=\"alignfull wp-block-post-title\">Pattern and Bold, Saturated Color Commingle in Ben Sledsens\u2019 Rhythmic Paintings<\/h1>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-meta is-layout-flex wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-date\"><time datetime=\"2026-08-27T16:07:49-05:00\">August 27, 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<div class=\"taxonomy-category wp-block-post-terms\"><a class=\"category-art\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/category\/art\/\" rel=\"tag\">Art<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-post-author-name\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/author\/gebert\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"wp-block-post-author-name__link\">Grace Ebert<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-group alignfull post-share-group is-layout-flow wp-block-group-is-layout-flow\">\n<ul class=\"colossal-share-buttons\">\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--facebook\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fben-sledsens-an-apple-for-the-road-paintings%2F&amp;title=Pattern%20and%20Bold%2C%20Saturated%20Color%20Commingle%20in%20Ben%20Sledsens%26%238217%3B%20Rhythmic%20Paintings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share on Facebook\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Share<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--pinterest\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2F2026%2F08%2Fben-sledsens-an-apple-for-the-road-paintings%2F&amp;media=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.thisiscolossal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F08%2Fseldsens-4-960x733.jpg&amp;description=Pattern%20and%20Bold%2C%20Saturated%20Color%20Commingle%20in%20Ben%20Sledsens%26%238217%3B%20Rhythmic%20Paintings\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Share to Pinterest\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Pin<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--email\">\n\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/cdn-cgi\/l\/email-protection#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\" aria-label=\"Email this article\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-hidden=\"true\">Email<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--copy\">\n\t\t\t<button type=\"button\" aria-label=\"Copy article link\" class=\"colossal-share-button__link colossal-share-button__copy\" data-url=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/ben-sledsens-an-apple-for-the-road-paintings\/\" data-label-default=\"Copy\" data-label-copied=\"Copied!\" data-aria-default=\"Copy article link\" data-aria-copied=\"Link copied to clipboard\"><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"colossal-share-button__label\" aria-live=\"polite\">Copy<\/span><br \/>\n\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t<\/li>\n<li class=\"colossal-share-button colossal-share-button--bookmark\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"simplefavorite-button preset\" data-postid=\"477208\" data-siteid=\"1\" data-groupid=\"1\" data-favoritecount=\"0\"><i class=\"sf-icon-bookmark\"><\/i>Bookmark<\/button>\t\t<\/li>\n<\/ul><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>In <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bensledsens\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ben Sledsens<\/a>\u2019 new body of work, <em>An Apple for the Road<\/em>, saturated fields of color meet methodical patterns constructed from grasses, leaves, brick, and more. The Antwerp-born artist conceives of vibrant, atmospheric paintings in which life pauses for a moment: there\u2019s a swan hovering over its tinted reflection, a woman just stepping out her front door, and vivid still lifes in which clouds and soft breezes rustle through the windows.<\/p>\n<p>Often beginning with drawings on paper before translating the most salient details to the canvas, Sledsens is interested in repetition and the visual power of pattern, which he layers to form dense thickets of willow trees or the tiles lining a boating dock. These motifs set the scene, in which the ordinary appears in a new, slightly skewed perspective.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-6.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477208\" title=\"\u201cLily in the Blue Pond\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 180 x 150 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cLily in the Blue Pond\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 180 x 150 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cLily in the Blue Pond\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 180 x 150 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2873\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-6.jpg\" alt=\"a blue painting by Ben Sledsens of lily pads \" class=\"wp-image-477214\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cLily in the Blue Pond\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 180 x 150 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>While bold in color, the oil-and-acrylic paintings are quiet and intimate. Sledsens beckons the viewer into domestic spaces and serene pockets of landscape, while opting for soft light and the haze of dusk. By pairing recognizable imagery with a sense that we\u2019re witnessing a fleeting moment, the artist invites questions about what sustains our attentions and what details we may never fully grasp.<\/p>\n<p><em>An Apple for the Road <\/em>is on view from September 3 to October 10 at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.timvanlaeregallery.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tim Van Laere Galler<\/a> in Antwerp. Dive into the artist\u2019s archive on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/bensledsens\/?hl=en\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Instagram<\/a>.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-5.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477208\" title=\"\u201cEvening Light\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 140 x 130 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cEvening Light\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 140 x 130 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cEvening Light\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 140 x 130 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2151\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-5.jpg\" alt=\"a painting by ben sledsens of a streetscape at dusk\" class=\"wp-image-477213\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cEvening Light\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 140 x 130 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-2.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477208\" title=\"\u201cEight Pink Roses\u201d (2025), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cEight Pink Roses\u201d (2025), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cEight Pink Roses\u201d (2025), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2753\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-2.jpg\" alt=\"a painting by ben sledsens of a still life vase of pink roses\" class=\"wp-image-477210\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cEight Pink Roses\u201d (2025), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-3.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477208\" title=\"\u201cA Three Masted Ship\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 200 x 160 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cA Three Masted Ship\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 200 x 160 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cA Three Masted Ship\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 200 x 160 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2491\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-3.jpg\" alt=\"a painting by ben sledsens of a sailboat on the water\" class=\"wp-image-477211\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cA Three Masted Ship\u201d (2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 200 x 160 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-1.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477208\" title=\"\u201cStill Life in a Yellow Room\u201d (2026), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cStill Life in a Yellow Room\u201d (2026), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cStill Life in a Yellow Room\u201d (2026), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2751\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/seldsens-1.jpg\" alt=\"a painting by ben sledsens of a still life scene with yellow windows in the background\" class=\"wp-image-477209\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cStill Life in a Yellow Room\u201d (2026), oil paint on paper, 106 x 75 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sledsens-7.jpg\" class=\"swipebox\" data-rel=\"lightbox-gallery-477208\" title=\"\u201cBlue Window White Flowers\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 115 x 85 centimeters\" data-rl_title=\"\u201cBlue Window White Flowers\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 115 x 85 centimeters\" data-rl_caption=\"\u201cBlue Window White Flowers\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 115 x 85 centimeters\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"2000\" height=\"2729\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/sledsens-7.jpg\" alt=\"a painting by Ben Sledsens of white flowers in a white vase on a window ledge overlooking a city\" class=\"wp-image-477215\"><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">\u201cBlue Window White Flowers\u201d (2025), oil and acrylic on canvas, 115 x 85 centimeters<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<aside class=\"after-entry\" role=\"complementary\" aria-label=\"After Entry\">\n<section id=\"block-16\" class=\"widget widget_block widget_text\">\n<p><mark style=\"background-color:#88caf0\" class=\"has-inline-color\"><strong>Do stories and artists like this matter to you?<\/strong><\/mark> Become a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\" data-type=\"page\" data-id=\"118516\">Colossal Member<\/a> now, and support independent arts publishing.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<section id=\"block-17\" class=\"widget widget_block\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-top is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-28f84493 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-benefits is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Hide advertising<\/li>\n<li>Save your favorite articles<\/li>\n<li>Get 15% off in the <a href=\"https:\/\/colossal.shop\/\">Colossal Shop<\/a><\/li>\n<li>Receive members-only newsletter<\/li>\n<li>Give 1% for art supplies in K-12 classrooms<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-top member-options is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-fe9cc265 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\">\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Join us today!<\/h3>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113464\">$7\/month<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-verdigris-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/colossal.memberful.com\/checkout?plan=113463\">$75\/year<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-crow-color has-chalk-background-color has-text-color has-background has-link-color wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/members\/\">Explore membership options<img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"20\" height=\"21\" class=\"wp-image-327872\" style=\"width: 20px\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/arrow-left.svg\" alt><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/section>\n<\/aside>\n<nav class=\"navigation post-navigation\" role=\"navigation\">\n<div class=\"nav-links\">\n<div class=\"nav-previous\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thisiscolossal.com\/2026\/08\/handmade-utopia-david-jacob-kramer-michael-schmelling-architecture-california-book\/\" rel=\"prev\">Next article<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/nav><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u201cSwan and the Willow\u201d (2025-2026), oil and acrylic on canvas, 190 x 250 centimeters. All images courtesy of Courtesy of Tim Van Laere Gallery, shared with permission Pattern and Bold, Saturated Color Commingle in Ben Sledsens\u2019 Rhythmic Paintings August 27, 2026 Art Grace Ebert Share Pin Email Copy Bookmark In Ben Sledsens\u2019 new body of [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[226,270],"class_list":["post-2115195","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-crawlmanager","tag-thisiscolossal-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115195","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2115195"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2115195\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2115195"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2115195"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2115195"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}