Benjamin Walls

Internationally Recognized Artist

Benjamin Walls Fine Art Photographer
  • Seven International Awards
  • Five-time Smithsonian exhibitor
  • Two-time Natural History Museum of London exhibitor
  • Collectors include Grammy award winners, Fortune 500 CEOs, Hollywood producers, and politicians alike

Humble Beginnings

Inspired by nature / Bored with convention / Determined to make a difference In 2003– at the height of the digital camera revolution — Benjamin left home with a film camera determined to create a groundbreaking body of photographic art. As a completely self-taught photographer with limited funds, the following 18 months became his proving ground. He traveled more than 30,000 miles on a shoestring budget, spent less than five nights in a hotel room, and rationed his food to save money for film Read More
Broke from his travels, in 2005 Benjamin borrowed money to frame and debut his initial works in three art galleries across the Carolinas. He also submitted his best pieces to juried exhibits in some of the world’s most prestigious museums. Less than two years later, three of his pieces had won international recognitions; two were hanging in the Smithsonian, and one at the Natural History Museum of London—he was only 23 years old. Benjamin built upon his critical acclaim and in 2010 opened his first signature gallery in his hometown of Bristol, TN/VA. Four years later, two more of his pieces were exhibited at the Smithsonian, and four more new pieces were selected as finalists at the Natural History Museum of London. In 2015, Benjamin founded WALLSabout Luxury Travel — an ambitious start-up designed to take his growing collector base to experience nature in style while funding key ecotourism initiatives. Barely a year later, in 2016, Benjamin’s work was selected for a large-scale solo exhibit at the Tennessee State Museum. The expansive 6000-ft² exhibit inspired the creation of his coffee table book, BEYOND, which was published in 2017 and features a foreword by Dolly Parton. By 2019, Benjamin had decided it was time to expand beyond the borders of Bristol, and opened his second signature gallery location in Asheville, NC. This location features the addition of WALLS Wine Bar which offers sustainable and organic wines to compliment the overall WALLS experience. Today, Benjamin’s artistic vision and ambitious conservation agenda continue to be fueled ever higher by his expanding collector base, exceptional team, and entrepreneurial spirit. When asked what lies ahead, he would say “hold on to your hat, we are just getting started.”

Passionate Conservationist

Benjamin and Jane Goodall
  • Over $750,000 raised for charity

Benjamin’s ability to connect people to the natural world through art and travel has raised over $750,000 for non-profits and charities. He continually strives to expand the outreach of his mission, and as such currently serves on the Development Committee for the Jane Goodall Institute, a global community conservation organization.

Read More

Benjamin helped raise ninety-thousand dollars for the Jane Goodall Institute on September 20th, 2019. The funds were raised by auctioning Benjamin’s art and ticket sales to an intimate fireside chat with Dr. Jane Goodall. With this effort The Benjamin Walls Galleries have now raised over $750,000 dollars for local and global conservation charities. Benjamin’s life-long passion to connect people with the natural world is only matched by his drive to fund campaigns to protect endangered species and lands.

Benjamin and the Benjamin Walls Gallery are intimately connected to the conservation efforts of the Northern White Rhinos. Only two rhinos remain of the entire species, Najin & Fatu, daughters of the last male, Sudan, who passed away of natural causes in 2018. A first-of-its-kind embryo creation and in vitro fertilization effort is now being conducted in an attempt to conserve the species (more info here). Benjamin is close friends with James & JoJo, caretakers of Najin & Fatu at Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya, and is an executive producer of the documentary film Kifaru that follows their lives and the plight of saving the species. Through WALLSabout™ Luxury Travel, the Benjamin Walls Gallery personally connects travelers with this initiative by including Ol Pejeta in its itineraries, therefore raising awareness and garnering funds for the conservancy.

The Benjamin Walls Gallery donates a portion of all sales of Benjamin’s book Beyond each month to Friends of the Smokies, a non-profit that raises funds for historic preservation, wildlife management, environmental education and more in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Serial Entrepreneur

About Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery
  • Four successful startups
  • Diversified verticals focusing on art, luxury travel, lifestyle & real estate

Unique Vision

According to the SBA, nearly 50% of small businesses fail within their first five years – Yet, Benjamin has built four successful businesses in a decade!
Walls Fine Art Galleries
Benjamin Walls Fine Art Galleries
About Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery
WALLSabout Luxury Travel
About Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery
WALLS Wine Bar, Asheville
About Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery
WALLS Luxury Lofts

Committed Preservationist

About Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery
  • Adaptive Reuse Award, National Trust for Historic Preservation, 2010
  • Believe in Bristol Award, 2013
  • Bristol City Historic Preservation Awards, 2020

Benjamin took a condemned building and transformed it into one of the most awarded historic properties in Bristol.

“I believe that profitability and historic preservation are not mutually exclusive. In fact, historic preservation conserves resources, reduces waste, and saves money by repairing and reusing.”

Adaptive Reuse Award, National Trust for Historic Preservation

2010

Believe in Bristol award

2013

Bristol City Historic Preservation Awards

2020

I'm convinced that this young artist, who has already won many national and international awards, is truly an artist to watch.

Mark Warner

United States Senator

Visiting the Gallery is truly an unforgettable experience. It is amazing to view the grandeur and mystery of what Benjamin's creative eye can capture through a camera's lens.There was no question as to why he has won so many national and international awards once I saw his work.

Unbelievable Experience

Via TripAdvisor

Your images are absolutely spectacular, as well as inspiring. I hope to see more of you and your great works!

Dolly Parton

Entertainment Icon

I have never seen anything like it. A delightful time at the opening of two new pieces last Saturday. Everyone was welcoming and truly glad we were there.

I have never seen anything like it!

Via TripAdvisor

What beautiful work you have on display in Bristol. I enjoyed meeting and visiting with you.

Ralph Northam

73rd Governor of Virginia

This gallery is an unpresumptuous gem which will take you around the world with Benjamin's incredible work. He is a brilliant artist!

Blown Away

Via TripAdvisor

The Origins Video

Watch as I spill all the beans on my humble start, the challenges of realizing a big dream, and a glimpse into the future in this interview-style video that might even shock my mother!
Play Video

Artist Resume

About Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery

News

Benjamin Walls Fine Art Gallery

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