"My paintings express my life and experience. I paint the things I know about and have experienced."

Ben with The Preacher painting.Benjamin Hollis is a native of East Harlem in New York City. Self-taught artist Benjamin Hollis has painted seriously since he was nine years old. By the time he reached age fifteen, he had sold his first painting -- Frederick Douglas, The Emancipator" to Mr. William Booker, the proprietor of a barbershop on East 102nd Street in East Harlem, where he grew up. Although Booker's Barber Shop moved a few blocks north, "The Emancipator" still proudly hangs on the shop's walls.

Ben Hollis was born to be an artist. It's that simple. In 1974 he pursued his life-long dream of becoming a working artist. He returned to the corporate world as a sales executive for a fortune five hundred company in 1987 and remained there until 2005 when God stirred his passion to return to his first love - painting. He has since developed this passion into a formal full-time business venture headquartered in Northern New Jersey.

Ben's Style and Passion
Ben Hollis' bold style of painting on various art mediums caught the interest of many well-known celebrities, politicians and corporate executives. Through the network, one of his paintings, entitled "The Spirit of America" was sold to The Late Former President Ronald Reagan during his first term in office.

In response to the question, where do you get your inspiration paint? Ben said: "My paintings express my life and experience. I paint the things I know about and have experienced." In 2001, he was inspired to create a painting entitled "The Preacher". "The Preacher," pictured above with Mr. Hollis, was recently selected to represent the spirit and celebration of his beloved Church's 12th Anniversary Theme: "Praise Is What We Do" and became the official graphic for the journal cover and all other media associated with Christian Federation Ministry's 12th anniversary celebration.

The Hollis name is a "household" word in many circles, but he refuses to get absorbed with his popularity. Hollis has lectured at schools and colleges about opportunities in the art field. Ben Hollis is active in community affairs and outreach projects at his church, where he serves as a deacon and expositor of the word.

Ben Hollis' original paintings are included in the art collections of many prestigious individuals, organizations, and corporations. A partial listing of Mr. Hollis' exhibitions and collectors of his artwork is listed below:

Media:
New Yorker Magazine
Cue Magazine
The Amsterdam News
Sotheby's Catalog
The Greenwich Times
The Stamford Advocate
BronxNet - "Blackwash"

Exhibits (Solo and Group):
The Late Darwin N. Davis, Sr.
Bonwit Teller, Short Hills Mall in NJ
Bruse Museum of Greenwich, CT
Art in the Atrium - Whippany, NJ
Corporate Collections:
IBM
The Equitable
Avon Products
Urban League of Greater NY

Private Collections:
The Late Arthur Ashe
Kenneth I. Chenault - CEO
William (Bill) Cosby
The Late Darwin N. Davis, Sr.
Former NYC Mayor David Dinkins
Vernon E. Jordan, Jr.
The Late President Ronald Reagan
Ted & Nina Wells
Stevie Wonder