OPENING RECEPTION ON FRIDAY, DECEMBER 13, FROM 6 - 9PM
McLennon Pen Co. is excited to present Won’t You Be My Neighbor, a new exhibition by Austin-based artist Ben Siekierski. The show features a series of paintings, drawings, and sculptures that delve into the modern anxieties and embedded mythology in our everyday surroundings.
In this new series, the artist examines the haunting sense of loss and the presence of protective yet often suffocating symbols within his neighborhood—symbols that are both a source of security and a reflection of contemporary fears.
In many modern neighborhoods, security cameras, doorbell systems, and surveillance technologies offer a thin veneer of safety, but they also amplify the anxieties of those who live behind these barriers. In Won’t You Be My Neighbor, Siekierski brings the viewer into these liminal, nighttime spaces, where the symbols that are supposed to protect us—rock walls, ADT signs, and watchful eyes—are stripped of their authoritative power. Presented out of context, these symbols lose their ability to guard, becoming mere objects, evoking feelings of vulnerability and loss.
Upon entering the gallery, viewers encounter a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire and a neighborhood watch sign. This barrier restricts access to the works beyond, forcing the viewer to engage with the pieces from a distance. In the background, The Fire explores suburban anxieties, where the aftermath of a fire—ignited by a reckless hand—burns across the canvas. On the farthest wall, Eye Can See You presents a pair of green eyes that maintain a constant, unsettling gaze, reminding viewers of the ever-present watchfulness of the neighborhood.
For Siekierski, the presence of these symbols in his own neighborhood creates an oppressive atmosphere, one that blurs the line between security and surveillance. This discomfort and unease is further explored in a series of drawings and paintings of snakes coiled in knots—images that evoke tension, constriction, and a sense of being trapped.
-- Written by Sarah Martin
ABOUT THE ARTIST:
Ben Siekierski (b. 1995) is an artist based in Austin, TX. He received his BFA from The Rocky Mountain School of Art and Design in 2018. His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally, with recent shows including Home, Alone at Tutu Gallery and various projects with P.A.D in New York City. In 2019, Ben participated in a residency at Paradise A.I.R. in Matsudo, Japan. His work has been featured in The New City, YNGSPC, and Horst und Edeltraut.