Franklin Bender

Franklin Bender is a native Oregonian who grew up in Portland and moved to Eugene in 2014 to work at the University of Oregon. Mr. Bender has a MS degree in speech-language pathology and a PhD in quantitative research, educational policy, and leadership. A theme that has resonated with Mr. Bender throughout his professional career is the intersectionality between science and art. His experience as a rehabilitation practitioner, and his training as a research scientist, has significantly influenced Mr. Bender’s creative mindset and how he approaches the art process. Mr. Bender’s primary mediums of artwork include copper tooling/etching and charcoal rubbings (i.e. frottage). To complement Mr. Bender’s copper art, he uses heat from different types of blowtorches to create unique effects that contribute to the story being conveyed within his copper art pieces.

In 2021, Mr. Bender’s life path significantly changed due to being diagnosed with a brain tumor and experiencing surgical complications during brain surgery. This unexpected life event abruptly ended Mr. Bender’s professional career as a clinical assistant professor in speech-language pathology. However, this is where art became Mr. Bender’s refuge as he navigated through pain and the stages of grief, while also searching for direction and purpose. Mr. Bender’s art not only became his therapeutic outlet, but has led to a new life path, a sense of purpose, and another way for him to contribute to his community.