BHHS Grad Waldow Shows Art in Two Exhibitions

Ben Waldow, a 2010 Beverly Hills High School graduate and now a sophomore at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), is currently included in two diverse exhibits in the Los Angeles area.

Waldow, 19, is among a group of artists who have each customized a vinyl art toy called the “Labbit” for the “Year of the Labbit” Custom Show, which opens 7 p.m. Thursday at the Japanese American National Museum in downtown L.A. On display through Sept. 11, the show is in conjunction with the exhibition Year of the Rabbit: Stan Sakai’s Usagi Yojimbo.

The Beverly Hills native applied his iconic black-and-white characters to the roto-cast critter made popular by designer/illustrator Frank Kozik. All pieces will be available for sale through the museum store. The event is part of Little Tokyo Design Week, which goes through July 17.

Although his business cards read “Doodler/Designer,” Waldow has expanded his artistic horizons since starting art school. His focus is now printmaking. His new prints are part of an innovative installation at the Galvin Benjamin Salon in West Hollywood.

Galvin Benjamin resembles an artist’s loft rather than a super star hair salon. It is the creation of London-based stylists James Galvin and Benjamin Mohopi. Highly touted in art as well as fashion and beauty publications, the salon's rotating displays are more than simply décor, showcasing pieces by both emerging and well-known artists. All pieces are available for purchase.

The present exhibit was organized by Sonja Teri, an independent curator, publicist and founder of posterchildprints.com. She met Waldow last summer at Lazarides Gallery on North Beverly Drive, where he was working.  

Waldow goes by Bendow; the nome de art combines his first and last names and was created by his middle school history teacher, Joanie Garratt at El Rodeo.

Doodling actually helped him focus in school, Waldow recalls.

“I covered my class notes with drawings throughout high school,” Waldow said. He even sold a page of his Advanced Placement History notes at his first gallery show when he was just 15. He is also known for customizing tennis shoes. (Ask any recent BHHS graduate.)

Artist Norm Maxwell, who operates the Norm Maxwell Studio Gallery on Fairfax Avenue, has exhibited Waldow’s work and even employed him as a gallery assistant. Maxwell also refers to the young artist as Bendow.

“Bendow's primitive freestyle arrangements are refreshing and executed with a confidence rarely seen in an artist so young,” he said. “I’ve encouraged Bendow to stay on his path and be true to himself.”

For a young local artist with so much going on, it seems like there is just one name to remember, and it’s Bendow.

Editor's Note: Ben Waldow is columnist Ellen Lutwak's son.

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