My story

Hey there, I’m Ben Weiss, and I create handmade ink portraits that capture the essence of you or your loved ones in a truly unique way.

For me, "The.inkubator" isn’t just an art project, it's a reflection of my own story.

I grew up as a shy, introverted boy in a conservative North-African jewish family in Israel during the 80's. As a gay man, I often felt invisible, hiding parts of myself to fit expectations and always trying to blend in. 

For 20 years, I built software with logic and code in the Israeli and American tech industry. But something was missing.. I needed to create with my hands, to express myself beyond numbers and lines of code. Then I discovered ink, and everything changed.

Ink amazed me with its boldness, its permanence, and its emotion. Every stroke demands confidence and courage. Every step transforms a blank page into something raw and expressive. But the most powerful moment in my creation process is when the final artwork reveals itself to me, somewhere between the ink and the paper, a truth emerges. That’s when I truly see the beauty and uniqueness of what I’ve created. And through my art, I also see the beauty in myself.

My work explores self-image and erotic intimacy in the Tel-Aviv LGBTQ community, moments of vulnerability, desire, and connection. Each piece reflects my journey, encouraging others to embrace their identity unapologetically. "The.inkubator" is my way of sharing that journey, creating art that makes people feel seen, celebrated, and proud of who they are.

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I’d love to hear your thoughts. Feel free to reach out.

Enjoy your visit,

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Ben Weiss
@ben.wss