Antonio Benjamin Hazelnut Boobie Pin
Hard enamel lapel bin with rubber backing
artwork by Antonio Benjamin 
.75 x 1 inch
 
Antonio Benjamin - Nudes
Published by Books for all Press 2016
14 Pages including Strawberry Men and Strawberry Women, Chocolate Men and Chocolate Women, Black Strawberry Men & Black Strawberry Women
 
from Creativity Explored Instagram
 
A longtime Creativity Explored studio artist, Antonio had a unique way of capturing community and identity through his signature nudes—figures rendered in rich chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla hues, reflecting the beauty of diversity and the complexity of human connection.⁠
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Antonio passed away in 2019, but his work remains as powerful and relevant as ever. His drawings, often featuring rows of nude cat-people or stylized groups of “flavored” figures, challenged perceptions of race, gender, and what it means to be human. He once said, “My work is about a group of people. Chocolate, strawberry, and vanilla people. They all think different. The chocolate people, they are really Black, but I just call them chocolate.” His reimagining of identity was both personal and universal, speaking to history, community, and self-expression with a signature mix of honesty and humor.⁠
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In his years at CE, Antonio brought a bright smile, a calm energy, and an adventurous creative spirit into the studio every day. He pushed boundaries in his work, embracing new challenges and collaborating with fellow artists and teaching staff to develop his practice. His legacy lives on not just in exhibitions, books, and collectable pins but in the joy and thoughtfulness his art continues to inspire.⁠