There’s a certain silence that falls in a corporate office when the emails stop, the calls fade, and all that’s left is the hum of fluorescent lights and the weight of your own thoughts.
Corporate Contempt captures that silence. That moment when you stop moving just long enough to ask yourself—Is this it?
This painting was born from my own internal reckoning. The figure stands at a distance from the desk, frozen in a quiet, almost cinematic moment of reflection. The office is modern, efficient, and sterile. Sunlight pours in through floor-to-ceiling windows, but there’s no real warmth—only the stark contrast between light and shadow.
It’s a visual metaphor for the conflict so many of us carry: the illusion of control, the grind of productivity, and the creeping suspicion that we were meant for something more. Something real. Something outside.
I painted Corporate Contempt after dealing with returning to the office post-COVID, wondering how we got there—how our lives became tethered to email chains, endless meetings, and careers that often feel devoid of soul. I’d stared out the window at the trees and long for dirt trails instead of hallways, for rain instead of routine.
This painting is for the moment you ask yourself if you’re building a legacy or simply helping someone else build theirs.
It’s not a condemnation—it’s a mirror. And sometimes, it takes a quiet moment in an empty room to realize you’re ready to walk out the door and rediscover your life.
Ben Young is a contemporary fine artist originally from Appalachia, Ohio. Originally a Software Engineer, he began painting in watercolor and oil less than two years ago, and his work has quickly gained attention for its emotional depth and storytelling. Each piece is a personal narrative, rooted in lived experience and expressed through a sensitive, evocative style. Each piece touches on themes of loss, love, family, and resilience, often drawing from his own life, including the tragic loss of his fiancée and journey it took to overcome those emotional burdens. His paintings resonate with collectors drawn to authenticity, vulnerability, and a fresh, emerging voice in American art.
Corporate Contempt is available for acquisition as the original watercolor painting or as a high-quality limited reproduction. Collectors may choose between owning the one-of-a-kind original or a museum-grade print that preserves the emotional depth and detail of the work. Both options offer a meaningful way to bring this powerful and personal piece into your collection.
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Reproductions are printed on premium archival fine art paper using only the finest archival-grade inks, these works meet the strict standards of giclée printmaking—ensuring exceptional detail, color accuracy, and fade resistance. Designed to preserve the integrity of the original artwork, each reproduction is a museum-quality piece intended to be cherished for generations.
If you have any questions about the artwork, the reproduction process, or anything else, please feel free to contact me.
I take the quality of my artwork—both original pieces and limited reproductions—very seriously. Every piece is created and produced with a long-term collector in mind. Whether you're purchasing an original or a reproduction, I ensure that all materials meet archival standards, so your investment will stand the test of time. My reproductions are produced to meet giclée-quality standards for exceptional fidelity and durability.
Hear directly from those who have welcomed my work into their homes. These heartfelt testimonials reflect the emotional connection, quality, and meaning that collectors have found in each piece.
If you would like to step inside the story behind this piece—discover its inspiration, explore the creative journey, and gain access to private notes and collector insights—I invite you to join my private collector’s list.
As a welcome gesture, you will receive a preferred 20% collector’s privilege on your acquisitions, along with entry into an exclusive monthly drawing to receive a complimentary limited reproduction.
The following works are in order of date the narration takes place, starting after the current painting.
July 1, 2021
May 20, 2022
October 7, 2022
December 20, 2023
May 28, 2024
September 5, 2024
September 10, 2024
The featured artwork forms a visual autobiography, presenting moments of adversity, resilience, connection, and growth in chronological order to reflect both personal memories and the broader evolution of my life and art.
October 4, 2014
December 22, 2019
February 26, 2020
February 26, 2020
February 27, 2020
December 22, 2020