Ben Lewis
@theuniversalben.bsky.social
Telling stories about art within the bigger picture of soc, econ and pol. Last Leonardo, Art Bust, Art Safari – Books. Podcasts. Documentaries www.benlewisprojects.com #arthistory
Posing in front of a Damien Hirst ain’t gonna help you with this one, mate
January 26, 2026 at 11:40 AM
Posing in front of a Damien Hirst ain’t gonna help you with this one, mate
Reposted by Ben Lewis
Romare Bearden, Martin Luther King, Jr.-Mountain Top, 1968
January 19, 2026 at 1:48 PM
Romare Bearden, Martin Luther King, Jr.-Mountain Top, 1968
Reposted by Ben Lewis
Purest profile, 1470, by Piero del Pollaiuolo. Today is his day.
January 17, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Purest profile, 1470, by Piero del Pollaiuolo. Today is his day.
One of my favourite films. Art house thriller
This killer is coming from Criterion in April--a hugely influential, visually extraordinary 1967 LA noir. For those who've read Pictures at a Revolution: I originally had a much longer (wisely abandoned) concept that would have included this film. I'm so happy to have done a video for this release!
January 16, 2026 at 9:19 PM
One of my favourite films. Art house thriller
I’ve decided to give my 2002 Grierson award for best historical documentary for ‘The King of Communism- The Pomp and Pageantry of Nicolae Ceaucescu’ to President Trump
Retweet with your giveaway award
Retweet with your giveaway award
January 16, 2026 at 7:54 AM
I’ve decided to give my 2002 Grierson award for best historical documentary for ‘The King of Communism- The Pomp and Pageantry of Nicolae Ceaucescu’ to President Trump
Retweet with your giveaway award
Retweet with your giveaway award
The new global binary is not East v West or Communism vs Capitalism or even Global North v Global South - it’s dictatorships vs democracies, because each individual dictator knows his survival depends on the destruction of all democracies
January 15, 2026 at 4:39 PM
The new global binary is not East v West or Communism vs Capitalism or even Global North v Global South - it’s dictatorships vs democracies, because each individual dictator knows his survival depends on the destruction of all democracies
Four legs good, two legs better moment
Fetterman on Fox & Friends: "America is a force of good, order, and democracy. And we are promoting these kinds of values. We are the good guys."
January 5, 2026 at 2:19 PM
Four legs good, two legs better moment
Reposted by Ben Lewis
I know we have bigger first to fry but this sucks so fucking bad.
Location: Midtown Hotel Boston
Location: Midtown Hotel Boston
January 3, 2026 at 12:35 AM
I know we have bigger first to fry but this sucks so fucking bad.
Location: Midtown Hotel Boston
Location: Midtown Hotel Boston
Wayne Thiebaud - delicious and juicy paintings @courtauld.bsky.social
Definitely not a one cake wonder though!
Definitely not a one cake wonder though!
December 30, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Wayne Thiebaud - delicious and juicy paintings @courtauld.bsky.social
Definitely not a one cake wonder though!
Definitely not a one cake wonder though!
Back in the early 90s, I once met Damon Albarn from Blur and he expressed incredulity that I only listened to House music
Right folks. Feeling rather down at the moment so bringing back an oldie
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
Please Quote this with your most minor celebrity interaction
December 30, 2025 at 2:13 AM
Back in the early 90s, I once met Damon Albarn from Blur and he expressed incredulity that I only listened to House music
Lisa Milroy and Wayne Thiebaud eat this!
Beautiful everyday Ladybird things.
‘Marbles’ (1959)
Artist: G Robinson
‘Marbles’ (1959)
Artist: G Robinson
December 29, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Lisa Milroy and Wayne Thiebaud eat this!
Sign the Petition
Require the City of London to retain current cafe operators
c.org
December 28, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Kicking myself about missing this exhibition of the inexplicably hypnotic images of one of the very few intriguing contemporary photographers. Anyway at least I have @jeremymillar.bsky.social ‘s great review.
www.ft.com/content/a68d... The captivating, revelatory world of Christopher Williams
www.ft.com/content/a68d... The captivating, revelatory world of Christopher Williams
The captivating, revelatory world of Christopher Williams
He may be the epitome of an artist’s artist, but his work is — or seems to be — all around us
www.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Kicking myself about missing this exhibition of the inexplicably hypnotic images of one of the very few intriguing contemporary photographers. Anyway at least I have @jeremymillar.bsky.social ‘s great review.
www.ft.com/content/a68d... The captivating, revelatory world of Christopher Williams
www.ft.com/content/a68d... The captivating, revelatory world of Christopher Williams
Sloppy Xmas everyone
December 26, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Sloppy Xmas everyone
A humourless BBC executive once accused me of being ‘arch’
What's an insult you'll never forget?
December 26, 2025 at 10:30 AM
A humourless BBC executive once accused me of being ‘arch’
Should a top Russian archaeologist face trial for digging in occupied Crimea? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Should a top Russian archaeologist face trial for digging in occupied Crimea?
The case of a scholar wanted in Ukraine sparked a debate on the relationship between museums and the Russian state.
www.bbc.co.uk
December 26, 2025 at 10:24 AM
Should a top Russian archaeologist face trial for digging in occupied Crimea? www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Happy Xmas from Maurizio Cattelan
December 25, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Happy Xmas from Maurizio Cattelan
Reposted by Ben Lewis
Virgin of the Dry Tree. Tiny, fascinating devotional work by Petrus Christus, whose day was today.
December 24, 2025 at 1:42 AM
Virgin of the Dry Tree. Tiny, fascinating devotional work by Petrus Christus, whose day was today.
Reposted by Ben Lewis
Number 18 by Jackson Pollock, 1950
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137445
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137445
December 23, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Number 18 by Jackson Pollock, 1950
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137445
https://botfrens.com/collections/212/contents/137445
Reposted by Ben Lewis
Made a tiny Christmas tree out of fossils: the stars are crinoid ossicles, the trunk dinosaur bone & the branches are sharks’ teeth 🎄🦴
December 23, 2025 at 8:18 AM
Made a tiny Christmas tree out of fossils: the stars are crinoid ossicles, the trunk dinosaur bone & the branches are sharks’ teeth 🎄🦴
Where is Richard Prince when you need him?
December 20, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Where is Richard Prince when you need him?
Reposted by Ben Lewis
Some of these redactions are almost like modern art
December 19, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Some of these redactions are almost like modern art
Very Sienese
Helene Schjerfbeck, Fragment, 1904. Oil on canvas, 12 3/8 x 13 3/8 in. (Villa Gyllenberg / Signe and Ane Gyllenberg Foundation, Helsinki), from an exhibition of the Finnish painter now on at the Met
December 15, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Very Sienese