Ben Wilson: The Artist Who Turns Discarded Chewing Gum Into Mini Art

A lot of people would not even pay attention to used chewing gum stuck to the pavement. Some may see it as disgusting, while others may only think about how much of a nuisance it is, but British artist Ben Wilson (also known as the ‘Chewing Gum Man‘) sees something different. He sees a small canvas that he can use to turn into beautiful art with a blowtorch, some carefully applied layers of paint, and a tiny brush.

How Chewing Gum Became His Unusual Canvas

Chewing gum wasn’t always Wilson’s canvas for creating his tiny art pieces. In fact, he didn’t use any canvas at all. Growing up, he experimented with different types of art, especially sculpture. He started painting on chewing gum as a way to fight against the waste that ruined his sculptures. Around the late 90s, he started doing it more often and eventually made it his profession in 2004.

Wilson’s painting process is actually quite tedious. Instead of getting rid of the chewing gum, he uses a mini blowtorch to carefully heat the surface. After that, he adds a layer of protection to the surface and starts adding acrylic enamel paints to it with tiny brushes. Once he finishes the painting part, he adds a lacquer to make sure nothing will ruin the artwork.

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Depending on the complexity, one artwork can take several hours or even days to make. The uneven surface of the gum also affects what he makes, as he has to adjust to the shape of the gum.

The Paintings Are Sometimes More Than Just Miniature Art

Paintings of animals, nature, and bright geometric shapes are all common things of Wilson’s work, but some of his most profound works are the ones made as a result of people approaching him and telling him what they want to see.

People often ask him to make small paintings of people that are meaningful to them. He even made a painting memorializing a couple who lost their child on London’s Millennium Bridge, which brought a lot of joy to the parents. Wilson managed to make a small piece of art that would become a part of the couple’s lives.

This ability to make people feel something special is one of the ways in which Wilson’s art is different from any other street art. One tiny painting can be perceived as just a small artwork by someone who sees it on the ground, but it can also become a meaningful piece for someone who sees it again after several years and remembers the good old times.

When Painting Gum Got Him Into Trouble With The Police

Unfortunately for Wilson, his art got him into a lot of trouble, too. The police often accused him of vandalizing the area, as painting on the pavement was not exactly a legal activity. He was even arrested a few times, like once on Millenium Bridge in London, where a lot of his pieces of art were displayed. Luckily for him, his supporters managed to help him by sending emails to his defense lawyers.

The defense lawyers argued that painting on used gum was not the same as vandalizing the bridge, which, in the end, turned out to be true.

The Hidden Conflict Between Artists and Clean Streets Enthusiasts

In 2023, the conflict between Wilson’s supporters and the clean streets enthusiasts rose yet again, as it was announced that the bridge was going to undergo a cleaning and maintenance process. Wilson’s supporters even started a petition to save Ben’s tiny masterpieces because, to them, they were an important part of the bridge. Meanwhile, the Millennium Bridge foundation also wanted to maintain the structure and keep it clean.

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Although most of the public sided with Wilson, the two sides eventually reached a compromise that allowed some of the paintings to be saved.  He later admitted that he was pleasantly surprised by how much of his artwork had survived the cleaning process. He still thinks that there are certain things about discarded chewing gum that need to be re-evaluated. It can be hard to remove from the pavement, so turning it into something beautiful could also help the environment.

Why His Tiny Art Leaves a Big Impression

Throughout his journey, Wilson made so many interesting discoveries that made his experience even more remarkable. First, he proved that art can be found everywhere, even in objects that are usually considered garbage. Second, he showed everyone that one is never too old to become an artist. Finally, Wilson also made it very clear that the world we live in is full of beauty, but most people just do not know where to look for it. They see the dirt on the streets, but not the art that could be there.

Wilson’s legacy might not be the 1,000 miniature paintings he has created so far, but the beautiful habit people across the UK have started to develop. They look at discarded chewing gum on the streets and stop for a moment, amazed by the beauty of the small, colourful art pieces.