Meet Ben Machesky | Autistic artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Ben Machesky and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ben, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
For as long as I can remember, I’ve had fascinations for many things including animals and the world around us and I wanted to express it in the form of art. As I grew, my artistic skills improved, notably in high school, and as I went through college, I learned many more techniques and mediums to add to my skillset. Not long after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in fine arts, I entered the world of art sales and since then, many more people have become familiar with my talent. I wanted to share my gift and express my creativity with the rest of the world.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’ve had a long-standing interest in the natural world, including animals and plants. Their variety in form, color, behavior, and lifestyle fascinates me and I believe the best way to express all that is in art. As I grew, I learned to expand my horizons by adding Detroit icons like the Renaissance Center to my art to appeal to different kinds of audiences. When I entered the world of art sales, I started out rather slowly since I had little experience with business. But with the help of some friends from an autism-focused organization, I was able to slowly but surely get to where I am today. It has been a learning curve for me on how to appropriately market myself and my art business. I have appreciated the excellent advice I have received generously from experts in this field. I enjoy bringing happiness to others through my art and I want to live my life to the fullest by continuing to share that joy with others and myself.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
For me, one of the coolest places to visit is the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge because of all the natural beauty that can be found along the trails and nearby Lake Erie and Detroit River. It’s a nice place to take a walk and learn about the local wildlife of Michigan. There’s also a wildlife center packed with wildlife exhibits and information on how we can maintain our ecosystems. One other fun thing to do is to take a ride with my Step Dad in his luxury boat on the Detroit River on a cool, relaxing evening. The boat glides along the water at an amazing pace and gives us a great view of the river and its surroundings. I would bring along my favorite snacks and my dog Jolene for the ride. I would also love to take my guest to a authentic pizza restaurant called Francesca’s which specializes in Neapolitan style brick oven pizza!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I’d like to dedicate my shoutout to my family and friends. My Mom, Dad, and sisters have all helped me prepare for every event I’ve participated in and given me guidance on many other things in life. I’d also like to thank my boss from work for helping me gain fame further by reaching out to the people of Wyandotte so I could participate in their yearly street fair.

Website: bmachesky.wixsite.com/bpm-portfolio

Facebook: Benjamin Machesky