Ben Abril

Ben Abril (1923-June 7, 1995) was an American artist best known for his paintings of California, often depicting urban landscapes, vehicles, and buildings of historical interest. He also focused "on weathered buildings that have been standing for 100 years or more, on ghost towns, on old roads passing through rural places."

After serving in the air force during World War II, Abril studied briefly at the Glendale School of Allied Arts with Arthur Beaumont (1890-1973). He then worked on night shifts at a post office in order to paint during the day. During these years he painted the circus and became interested in the Chinatown area of Los Angeles.

Success as an artist From 1959 to 1963, Abril embarked on a series of thirty-six paintings of old buildings, including dilapidated Victorian mansions, in the Bunker Hill area of downtown Los Angeles. His work attracted the attention of Alexander Cowie, one of the "big three" art dealers of Southern California, who in 1962 began to represent Abril.

The 1964 Cowie exhibit was a watershed in Abril's career. That year, actor and art collector Vincent Price bought out Abril's entire studio, purchasing 37 paintings.

The United States Navy commissioned Abril to paint a series on Japan and another of the Mekong Delta in Vietnam for their collection. California governor George Deukmejian collected his work,

Abril's technique was to begin with a "a lengthy study of the site, taking several photographs in different types of light. He may take 400 photos a week of various sites. By the time he puts brush to canvas he feels a kinship with his subject. 'You see an old barn or something and you stare at it long enough until you become that barn,' Abril says. 'Art is not what you do, it is what you are.'"

In museums and archives Works by Abril in museums include:

Abril also painted vintage cars, trucks, and trolley cars, and his work was represented in the art collection of the Mullin Automotive Museum in Oxnard, California.

A collection of Ben Abril archival materials, including photographs and press clippings, is conserved at the Seaver Center for Western History Research, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County.

A photograph of Abril at work, dated 1952 and titled "Artist captures Bunker Hill residence," is in the collection of works by photographer Roy Hankey at the Los Angeles Public Library and can be viewed online.

At auction An auction record for a work by Abril was set by Grand Central Public Market on Hill Street Between 3rd and 4th Street, Los Angeles, California, From Bunker Hill—Circa 1939, auctioned at John Moran Auctioneers in 2017 with a hammer price of $22,500. This record price was matched in 2021 at the same auction house by the 1959 painting 3rd Street East Los Angeles.