Collections Highlight: Ben Behunin – Making Art from Dirt

Artist Ben Behunin fell in love with making things from dirt when he attended Highland High School 38 years ago. “I needed an art class and, you know, to have dirt in your hands in the middle of high school – it was a pretty fun idea,” he says. He apprenticed in Germany in 1995 for four months and knew he wanted to be a potter when he returned. Now he’s been making pottery full-time in Salt Lake City for 30 years. 

Our State of Utah Alice Merrill Horne Art Collection recently acquired Ben’s piece called “PRO-PINQUI-TEA,” a gorgeous oversized teapot with a honeybee motif. In his artist statement, Ben says: “‘Propinquity’ has been defined as the sense of community love and connectedness we feel when we are in close physical proximity to others. Utah, the Beehive State, has a sense of community at its foundation. As a hobby beekeeper, I’ve witnessed the inspiring magic that takes place when thousands of bees work together for a common cause.” 

“The overstated size of this teapot has a connection to Utahns’ oversized hearts – anxious to serve, lift, and encourage,” Ben adds. “The multicolored dots at the top and bottom represent the colorful mosaic of people from all over the world who come together here to create beauty, encourage joy, and strengthen community bonds of love and propinquity to make our home a sweeter, kinder, and more magnanimous place.” 

Ben explains, “When people look at my teapot, I want them to think about what they can contribute to the health and the beauty and the vitality of the hive…. We live in a colorful place with colorful people, and everybody has their own story and experience, and we bring that all together. Let’s create something really fun and exciting and joyful.” 

Until about 20 years ago, all Ben’s work was wheel-thrown. Then he developed arthritis and began doing a lot more hand-building, which allowed him a different way to tell stories with clay, and he hasn’t looked back. Over the years, Ben’s home and studio have become works of art in their own right, filled with his beautiful pieces and with his colorful ceramic tiles inlaid all over the house and property. 

“I’m grateful for organizations like Utah Arts & Museums, because they give artists an opportunity to show, to be recognized, and to work on projects like this that stretch you a little bit,” Ben says. “Utah Arts & Museums really creates a kind of hive where artists and community can come together and find joy in the arts.” 

You can view Ben’s piece in our collections portal, and you can watch Ben discuss his work and this piece on our YouTube channel. Ben’s website is PotterBoy.com, and he’s on Instagram @niederbippboy. 

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