Information about the artist Benson Seto

Mr Benson Seto ( - 2005) Information about the artist
Benson Seto is a printmaker and artist from Hawaii who passed away in December 2005. His art is very colorful, very imaginative and very happy. He has specialized in naive etchings which he hand-colors using a multitude of colours and materials such as metallic paint, coloured pencils and ink, acrylic paint, glitter and metallic paper. Every print is a little different from all others; it is a unique work of art. It is a joy to own a work by Benson Seto, and certainly a real investment for the future. During his years as an artist Mr Seto has participated in many exhibitions, and he has won many prizes About art collections he says; “My artwork is in many private collections around the world – most notably the print “How to hold a smiling cat” which is owned by former President Clinton.” If Bill Clinton has a “Seto” shouldn't you?		Let’s hear what Benson Seto had to say about himself and his art: "I was born and raised in the tropical paradise in the town of Hilo, Hawaii, where the volcano erupt red hot lava quite often. My childhood was on a 40 acre fishpond which was owned by my parents. I had a good time playing with my friends, fishing, swimming, climbing and eating mangos, guavas, mountain apples, coconuts and other exotic fruits. At midnight we would tell ghost stories and toast marsh mellows over a bon fire and someone would say BOO! – and everyone would jump! Lots of vibrant colors can be seen in the incoming blue-green water currents commingling in the fishpond – mingling with the orange-red-white-yellow carps, green mullets led by an orange king mullet and porgies, greenish-orange shrimps, olive-green crabs with red eyes, brown light green paprus growing with the California grass with watercress growing alongside. On top of the water you might see a pair of huge white swans swimming with the wild ducks chased by swimming barking dogs. This is where my art originates from – plus reading, seeing movies and theatre, listening to music and observing every day life." Aloha Benson Seto
"Two clowns in love" , hand coloured etching by Benson Seto		Benson Seto in his New York studio

Selected national and international exhibitions:

- Las Vegas Museum, Las Vegas, USA
- International Miniature Print Exhibition, Seoul, South Korea
- Mini-Gravat International, Barcelona, Spain
- Pratt Graphics Centre traveling exhibition to Israel
- Print Club of Philadelphia Biennial, Philadelphia, USA
- Boston Printmakers National Exhibition, Boston, USA
- Owensboro Museum of Fine Art, Owensboro, USA
- Two Flags Festival, Douglas, USA
- 60 inches square, Purdue University Galleries, West Lafayette, USA
- Parkersburg print, painting and drawing exhibitions, Parkersburg, USA
- Stockton Commission National Exhibition, Stockton, USA
- National Small Print Exhibition, New Mexico, USA
- Wesleyan International Exhibition, Macon, USA
- National Print Competition and Exhibition, Edinboro State College, Edinboro, USA
- Bradley National print & drawing exhibition, Bradley University, USA
- National Competitive Graphics Exhibition, Tempo Gallery, Appleton, USA
- Schoharie County Arts Council small print & drawing exhibition, Cobleskill, USA
- Color Print USA, Lubbock, USA
- Mate Formy Grafiki, Lodz, Poland
- Mini Prints, Australia
- International Art Competition, Carpanica, Italy
- 4th Alabama Works on Paper & International Invitation Exhibit, Alice Lloyd College, Pippa Passes, USA
- North Dakota Print & Drawing Annual, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, USA
- Print Exhibition, Frechen, Germany
- 1st Miniature Print Exhibition, Del Bello Gallery, Toronto, Canada
- International Print Exhibition, Brazil

Awards:
Grand Prix:
International art competition, Capranica, Italy

First prize:
Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA
Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
Sarasota, Florida, USA
Brownsville, Texas, USA
Laramie, Wyoming, USA

Bronze medal:
Frechen, Germany

Purchase and Honorable Mention awards:
Owensboro Museum, Kentucky, USA
Space Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
Tempo Gallery, Appleton, Wisconsin, USA
Wesleyan College, Georgia, USA
Bradley University, Illinois, USA
Stockton Art Commission, San Francisco, California, USA
Watercolor USA, Friends of the Springfield art Museum
2005 Postcard Art Competition and Exhibition, USA

Benson Seto on his art:
“My hand-painted etchings are colorful, they have intricate patterns and sophisticated forms aesthetically evolved and deeply satisfying, and I also might add a sense of humor. Every print is painted differently – some might be drawn in to make it more original and more interesting."

Benson Seto working with details