Hello, my name is Ben Sampson, I currently live in Denver, Colorado with my wife Shannan and daugther Kinley. I have always been fascinated with the natural beauty of butterflies. As a kid traveling back to my Grandparents’ farm in Missouri, I invariably armed myself for arrival with a butterfly net since the Midwest has such a wide variety of insects and other creatures. I found butterflies in particular almost hypnotizing. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized I wanted to share this beauty with other people in the form of art. I made the creative decision to display the butterflies in crystal clear acrylic, no color on the back and no frame: just completely clear all the way through as if the butterflies are suspended inside. After all, it’s the butterflies that are on display, not the case itself.

The butterflies used in my displays are from all around the world. I have not altered them in any way. All of the colors you see in these displays are their natural colors. All of my butterflies are raised on butterfly farms overseas where they live out their natural life cycle, usually about 3 weeks to 1 month depending on the butterfly and conditions. Most of them mate and lay eggs before dying. The butterflies arrive in wax paper with wings folded. Because they are very fragile, much care must be taken to open the beautiful wings and prepare them for the displays. Their astounding array of colors and unfortunate short life expectancy allow for excellent preservation which make them an ideal green friendly gift.

Each acrylic display is custom-made and “air tight” to protect the butterflies from anything that might find it’s way inside.

I have been creating these displays since 2005. Each display is unique and I enjoy responding to requests for specific color themes, patterns and sizes. The butterflies displayed here are just a fraction of what God has created. The color combinations go on forever it seems.

I hope you enjoy my art and see these natural beauties as I have in a way that glorifies them and gives them more credit than they usually get. Butterflies symbolize “new life”, emerging from their cocoons with wings after having spent most their lives as caterpillars. This can be meaningful in different ways to different people. To me, it symbolizes a great thing…..Beautiful Life itself!

Artist Contact:
Ben Sampson
Phone : (408) 206-3999
e-mail: sampsonart@gmail.com