For Benjamin Dray, philosophy operates through abstraction, which he understands as a fundamental and enduring force within art and culture. Through his paintings, he reaffirms abstraction as a universal human language—one that has existed across civilizations and eras as a means of creating symbols, vessels capable of holding layered meanings and ideas. Each work carries a deliberate sense of intention and inquiry.

Dray’s paintings are composed of hundreds of hand-colored trapezoidal forms, meticulously cut with a blade into silver or gold leaf. Each individual shape may be read as an “atomic” unit—seemingly insignificant in isolation, yet activated when assembled into a larger system. Together, these elements generate movement, rhythm, and vitality, mirroring the interconnected structures found in nature.

Light plays a crucial role in the work’s experience. As natural light shifts throughout the day, the reflective surfaces respond—illuminating, refracting, and subtly transforming the composition. The paintings remain in a constant state of flux, coming alive over time as they engage directly with their environment.