Léwuga Tata Benson

Curriculum Vitae

Multidisciplinary artist and filmmaker working across moving image, installation, sound, and performance.

Education

Solo Exhibitions / Installations

2024
Fueling Change, Buffalo Arts Studio, Buffalo, NY.
Untitled (Oil Drum Installation), NYSSSA at Fredonia University, Fredonia, NY.
2023
Traces of Displacement, BAM Art Gallery, Buffalo, NY.
Carrying Weight, Carrying the Identity, International Institute of Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
2022
Hang in There, CEPA Gallery, Buffalo, NY.
The Land Gives Until It No Longer Can, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY.
2018
Home is Where the Art Is, Buffalo Center for Arts and Technology, Buffalo, NY.

Filmography

2025
Leave The Door Open (feature film). Director / Producer / Writer / Editor.
2022
The Places I Know (short film, 8 min). Director.
2020
Time to Leave (short film, 15 min). Director.
Good Shot (short film, 5 min). Director.
2019
This Mutt (short film, 6 min). Director.
A Long Long Now (30 min). Buffalo Youth Media Institute — Co-Director.
2018
Hands as Far as The Eyes Can See (27 min). Buffalo Youth Media Institute — Co-Director.
2017
Civic Heart (19 min). Buffalo Youth Media Institute — Co-Director.

Public / Site-Specific Projects

2026
Bridging Acts: A Dialogue Between Motion and Media. Creator / Director / Curator.
2025
Buffalo ReFUSE — Multi-Channel Video Installation. Collaborative project curated by Michael Chernoff.

Awards / Grants

2026
New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Grant. Support for Bridging Acts.
2024
New York State Council on the Arts (NYSCA) Grant.Support for Fueling Change.
Fulbright Scholarship Honoree. University at Buffalo Office of Academic Excellence.
2020
Covid-19 Emergency Relief Grant.
Outstanding Graduate Film — Time to Leave. University at Buffalo.
2019
Gregory Capaso Award.

Residencies / Fellowships

2025–26
Post-Production Diversity Initiative (PPDI) Fellow. Buffalo State University, Buffalo, NY.
2024
Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center Residency. Buffalo, NY.

Teaching / Academic Appointments

2024-2025
Adjunct Professor, Villa Maria College. Lighting for Film (DFM 201) • Editing II (DFM 231) • Directing for Film (DFM 301)
Lead Teaching Artist, Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center.

Experience

—
Art in The Open — Coordinator, University at Buffalo.
Art in The Open — Committee Member, University at Buffalo.
Director / Advisor — Student Film Projects, University at Buffalo.
Videographer — Buffalo International Film Festival.
2026
Shakespeare in Delaware Park — Board of Directors.
SPCA — Canine Enrichment Volunteer.
Shea’s Performing Arts Center — Spotlight Committee Volunteer.
Albright-Knox Art Gallery — Art Assistant Volunteer.
Spectrum Sports — Video Production Intern.
Squeaky Wheel Film & Media Art Center — Video Production Intern.
WNED-TV Buffalo & Toronto — Pledge Volunteer.