Pittsburgh-based artist Ben Tolman creates elaborate ink drawings that merge the playful search-and-find nature of "Where's Waldo?" with the optical complexity of M.C. Escher's work, resulting in what Galerie LJ describes as "a kind of human zoo." His upcoming solo exhibition "Control," opening next month in Paris, presents a collection of meticulously cross-hatched artworks that offer sharp social commentary on contemporary society.
The exhibition's title "Control" draws directly from current events, reflecting Tolman's 15-year artistic journey of exploring themes of disconnection and dystopian imagery. According to the gallery, his forthcoming show confronts the uncomfortable reality that many elements he previously imagined have become "disconcertingly close to reality." The artist's latest works continue his examination of how modern society shapes and controls individual behavior.
Tolman's intricate drawings feature dozens of faceless human figures inhabiting towering structures or gathering in crowds, depicted through delicate cross-hatching techniques. His 2025 work "Apartments" (ink on paper, 91.4 x 120.7 centimeters) exemplifies this approach, showing anonymous figures confined to individual, soulless compartments. The gallery notes that these faceless humans "move in sheeplike herds, willingly following paths that clearly go against their own interests: technology, invisible barriers, belief systems, trends, politics."
Several key pieces in the exhibition explore themes of modern isolation and technological dependence. In "Routine" (ink on paper, 68.6 x 55.9 centimeters), anonymous figures appear to be working, relaxing, or socializing within their designated boxes, while others simply stand motionless, absorbed in their phones. The darkly comedic piece "Connected" (ink and acrylic on paper, 109.9 x 82.5 centimeters) depicts people queuing to walk up a towering ramp structure, so engrossed in their screens that they fail to notice they're walking directly off a precipice.
The exhibition poses provocative questions about human behavior and social control. "The works in Control ask: how far are they (or we) willing to go? At what cost comes folly—or simply not paying attention?" the gallery states. Additional works include "Caution" (ink and acrylic on paper, 72.4 x 117.5 centimeters), "Naked Bike Ride" (ink on paper, 22.9 x 81.3 centimeters), and "Migration" (ink on paper, 61 x 91.4 centimeters), each contributing to the artist's comprehensive critique of Western society.
Galerie LJ describes Tolman's artistic approach as combining "a generous dose of cynicism and voyeurism" to portray "the eccentric truths and social failures of Western society." The gallery suggests that Tolman is simultaneously trying to understand and condemn these societal patterns. Despite the potentially bleak subject matter, the artist's work is elevated by what the gallery calls "delicious sarcasm," preventing the dystopian visions from becoming overwhelmingly dark.
"Control" will run from September 5 to October 4 at Galerie LJ in Paris. The exhibition represents Tolman's continued exploration of how individuals navigate—or fail to navigate—the complex social and technological structures that define contemporary life. More information about the artist's work can be found on his website and Instagram account.
