Nicholson, Ben (1894-1982), was an English artist noted for his abstract paintings. Nicholson’s most valued artistic contribution is the relief, a three-dimensional abstract picture created by cutting, carving, and painting flat boards. In his reliefs, Nicholson explored the interaction of form and light. His early reliefs are painted white, a color associated with purity and with Modern architecture designed in the early 1900’s. His later reliefs incorporate subtle color and texture.
Benjamin Lauder Nicholson was born on April 10, 1894, in Denham, near London. His father was Sir William Nicholson (1872-1949), also an artist. Ben Nicholson’s early works were charming and realistic decorative paintings. He also painted still lifes that demonstrate the influence of the French artist Paul Cezanne and the Cubism movement. Nicholson died on Feb. 6, 1982.
