Ben Mauzé

Ben Mauzé had an early interest in photography beginning in high school in Wilson, North Carolina. His final senior project on photography set him on a path of looking for the best shot wherever he went. After receiving a bachelor of arts from Colorado College, Ben traveled to Australia, India and Eastern Europe taking photos along the way before returning to the states to work as a wilderness and mountain bike guide in Utah. The beauty of the Utah landscape nurtured his love of photography.

Ben took old film cameras he found at flea markets, garage sales and pawn shops, along with his love of mountain biking and photography to Bolivia in 2009. He lived in La Paz for two years working as a climbing and mountain bike guide. The high Andes, cities and people served as a source of inspiration, and taking photos of everything Bolivia offered became an everyday obsession.

In 2011 Ben suffered a traumatic brain injury as the result of a bike accident in Bolivia and today he lives back home in Wilson. The results of aphasia, impaired vision and limited use of his right side have not dampened his love of photography and outpouring of creativity. He photographs using an iPhone rather than film cameras, but his particular sensibility and viewpoint are ever present in his photos, whether it’s small town life, details he observes, the beauty of nature, his travels or people he encounters.

Ben was honored to be included in the 2017 and 2018 Eyes on Main Street outdoor photo exhibit, a photography festival in Wilson featuring 100 photographs by 100 prominent and emerging photographers from over 40 countries. Ben’s photos were also featured in a 2013 show at the Arts Council of Wilson. His most recent exhibit, “To Bolivia and Home Again” at 217 BrewWorks in Wilson featured 30 images taken over the past 10 years.