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 while after no longer having to work in an office building, 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.
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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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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 would like to learn more about the inspiration behind this piece, explore the background story, view the creative process, and access additional details, please visit the link below:
