https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/about daily 0.75 2025-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/72deece0-f0c9-41e0-bdff-3c11475261c5/LogoColorSmall.png About - Benny Kessler-Bezark (they/them/theirs) is an illustrator, muralist, and lettering artist based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn. They create hand-lettered designs and illustrations, pulling inspiration from new wave palettes, punky pastiche, midcentury stylings, and anything else they can get their grubby little hands on. Sometimes those illustrations are really big and on a wall, sometimes they are really small and inside a Viewmaster, but more often then not they are of a manageable size for the average human to handle. Thematically they are fascinated by the intersection of witchcraft, history, folklore, and game design. Within those realms, they are specifically drawn to how communities past and present utilize stories of magic and mythology to navigate the human experience, as well as how those narratives come to life through the experience of games and play. They work at Paperless Post as an illustrator and animator. Select freelance clients include Bloomberg Industry Group, Lou Wilson and Brennan Lee Mulligan, FringeArts, Broadside PR, and The Bezark Company. They have a master’s degree in illustration from Maryland Institute College of Art with a former life as a costume designer and theater director at Fordham University’s Theater Program. And what is Retro Spectacle Studio? In the early winter of 2020 I began exploring and questioning my gender identity. Understanding that this would be a dynamic process that would likely shift and expand many times over, I wanted to come up with a pseudonymous moniker that could remain constant for my illustration practice as I allowed my personal name, and its associations, to evolve as I needed. The title itself, “Retro Spectacle,” is a nod to my love of a vintage-inspired aesthetic as well an appreciation for all things spectacular and transcendentally over-the-top. (Pleas note: I embrace vintage style, not vintage values.) It is also a subtle reference to my brief and much-beloved stint as an optician. https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/contact daily 0.75 2021-11-04 https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home daily 1.0 2025-02-25 https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home/lettering monthly 0.5 2025-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/8bbefa07-8148-4d0b-9f8c-20baf3cffe97/16-ChristmasTreeViewing_PDP-Pink.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/d04e91da-d885-40e3-9e73-3e340729569e/PandemicTexture.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Designs for graduate thesis, "Postcards from a Pandemic" (2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/01a5e8c9-3057-442b-88a7-0aa49fed507d/OffToCollage%28Pink%29-PDP+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/86bd2d40-d4b6-4ccd-8c0d-dad3df010d3e/Postcard_Front+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Designs for graduate thesis, "Postcards from a Pandemic" (2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/3a96878c-e8e1-4209-a51f-bf8323e07e4a/BloomNouveau_PDP.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/6cf9c437-bfb5-4ed4-8c21-ca2d41485641/OpenRoadFrontFinal.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Designs for graduate thesis, "Postcards from a Pandemic" (2020) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/3b492086-2dc5-4b8a-bf9d-9ac3fa3201b6/OnCloudNine_PDP%28Pink%29+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/b552f92a-80f6-4ba7-b37e-07e9b5b6283b/03-SpellOfSkulls-PDP%28Holo%29+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/f5395fa8-9cfe-4436-bd0b-7703de281614/07-SantaSpectacular-PDP-MixedTone+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/86879992-ca8d-4bb7-ab35-4c7fd6b1e70c/TropicalHideaway-Blue%28PDP%29.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/e89c241e-68c4-4f98-af26-41272466db05/11-Rodeo-PDP-Black+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/cff66a52-df66-4e5b-b5b9-523085b3fd98/13-PickleLovers-PDP.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/e7f71168-4d29-4065-9841-74eb68238cd3/15-CharcuterieParty-PDP+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/d29e73fd-00cd-4464-9603-4cfd0eaa1bcc/17-WishingYouCheer_PDP-Paint+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/9156e331-4d2b-48a1-b2b0-40e0364cef56/GlitterParty-PDP+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/2059ca10-6d87-4a09-8d6d-39f3e180debd/Incognito-PDP+copy.jpg Home - Lettering & Stationery Select work for Paperless Post https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home/patterns monthly 0.5 2022-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/8f98feea-6f8e-4647-aae5-754981b1c866/Wrapped1+copy.jpg Home - Pattern Design Wrapping paper, 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/6d9a5435-6d55-48be-8580-750502993dd5/Kessler_Jenny_WinterFroots+copy.jpg Home - Pattern Design Personal work inspired by winter fruits, 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/9636421d-aa9a-4952-bda4-374d5572119b/IMG_5750-preview+copy.jpg Home - Pattern Design Wrapping paper, 2021. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/abb2964f-14d9-46b6-9a29-b5e6cb2bb050/TileColor.jpg Home - Pattern Design Floral design for baby shower invitation, 2021 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/098d88ee-f33a-47d7-896a-da9927c9f304/LABeer.jpg Home - Pattern Design Mockup of beer can, 2020 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/d6106c0f-abe3-4dde-8248-a36b67e9a96b/LAPattern.jpg Home - Pattern Design Personal work inspired by Los Angeles, 2020 https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home/wedding monthly 0.5 2023-06-14 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/7abca557-727d-4931-86ae-901032cd0be8/IMG_4608.JPG Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/3f1202ab-6915-4d4b-b872-071f810636a1/Invite_-_Center_-_WText.jpg Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/5be3ef05-d64b-48ff-9a66-4010eeebe8af/IMG_4620.JPG Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/23d83d4f-5341-4c85-9c37-9e76f7b88f60/IMG_4625.jpg Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/7d961895-faf2-4190-b74f-34288daeaa95/IMG_4633.JPG Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/26a22bcc-7103-45a8-a291-b6d3e6b47f1d/Save_The_Date_UFO.jpg Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/10dca4a5-b5a2-4a99-b7a8-63f788f52d14/IMG_4616.JPG Home - Wedding Invitations https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/887f78bf-4ee7-47b7-b080-104c92beb050/Benny%26JohnWeb-59.jpg Home - Wedding Invitations https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home/animation monthly 0.5 2025-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/52eada55-9a92-40e6-943a-ed6504a61cff/BallonFramesColor.gif Home - Animation Riso animation created during workshop with Kelli Anderson, 2024 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/daa0562c-22a1-461b-8928-d0f1eea7f0bb/Holiday_Animated.gif Home - Animation Animated holiday card, 2022 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/44ee3d69-0522-40c9-b6be-11d70b173501/Final_Motel_%28animated_Small%29.gif Home - Animation "Hotel California," 2020. Animated GIF created as part of a series called "Signs of Purgatory," illustrating the lyrics of purgatorial places. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/6cf9d140-54e2-4646-8d5a-81299aa06711/_Final_Hotel_%28animated_Small%29.gif Home - Animation "Heartbreak Hotel," 2020. Animated GIF created as part of a series called "Signs of Purgatory," illustrating the lyrics of purgatorial places. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/ce50b30c-64ac-44ac-a7c8-99a7bba873d5/Final_Bar_%28animated_Small%29.gif Home - Animation "House Of The Rising Sun," 2020. Animated GIF created as part of a series called "Signs of Purgatory," illustrating the lyrics of purgatorial places. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/111dcdbd-22b2-4349-85d9-23328d2c047d/MooMooMoo1.gif Home - Animation A Burping Cow, 2019. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/a29a57f2-a0c4-4f04-ab48-2f26f86b2e0a/FlowerPop.gif Home - Animation Created during a live performance with dancer Miryam Coppersmith as part of her Lunar CoLab series, 2021. https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home/illustration monthly 0.5 2025-02-25 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/771a4ce3-da42-43ca-94a6-7a0dfb9baa0a/Protostars-Color-04+copy.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/d4e088ee-009d-4e34-b674-63f2afe1cc5d/TDIFY_Final%2872dpi%29.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/7162d62d-5b7c-4094-9b69-0ffede7aca3f/Cloud_maker.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/a3897e21-5e59-491d-a1dc-1ae8c093a2cf/Diet_Coke%3A_Mothers_Day+copy.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/68d6004a-af45-4b3c-96a1-db0eb9a2f0ee/11.15.21_Color+copy.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/d79ea045-191f-4a8d-9452-3902c48e87ad/SeasonalDepression.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/c06ab7b0-fb9c-4791-9d04-9986c25a5dbe/BKessler-20x21+copy.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/5137b5d3-d9b4-4298-a212-f028412f518c/Untitled_Artwork+2.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/001b2c34-5736-41f0-8d93-cff932f7bb2c/GayForPlay.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/e89b38f9-c0e3-46cc-bba8-cb708a5206d4/InfinityBikeELSeparate.jpg Home - Illustration https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/3c95007f-16f8-4611-be94-5bf9363778ed/_Oddball_08.jpg Home - Illustration https://www.retrospectaclestudio.com/home/murals monthly 0.5 2022-06-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/84e3e253-4e64-43ce-96f4-f55029d8372d/IMG_0288.JPG Home - Murals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/35546329-3175-4928-af3b-4e84dbff929d/IMG_1178.JPG Home - Murals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/1655862847367-GPNSVDU4UCQKFP3SJFMV/IMG_1813.jpg Home - Murals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/0c86b1b4-0211-410b-ab1c-e0bcfda9c8a4/IMG_4351.JPG Home - Murals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/e1c285bb-f74d-4cc5-adc6-d8b46dfb362b/IMG_0432+2.JPG Home - Murals https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/615e1640ced50811245701cb/1635269483039-3CK7MCCU0UAQDLTJM48T/IMG_1135.jpg Home - 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