Neil Bender was born in New Jersey, and currently lives and works in Florida. His artwork has been shown nationally and internationally. Neil received the Joan Mitchell Foundation MFA Grant after getting his degree from the University of Georgia, attended the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, the ‘Painting’s Edge’ residency in Idyllwild, CA, and the Vermont Studio Center. He shows with Tempus Projects, and is co-founder of the artist collective and gallery QUAID in Tampa, where he is Associate Professor of Painting and Drawing at the University of South Florida. He's in town for an exhibit at the Wasmer Art Gallery here at FGCU featuring both his work, and the work of artist Jen Ray, for an exhibit called Blind Date.