Clifford Ward’s art spans space and temporality. Though his early path led through pre-medical studies and into the world of business publishing, Ward’s artistic spirit eventually emerged as his true north. After completing his B.A. in speech communications at Rider University, he navigated the corporate world until a pivotal moment when his longtime artistic practice transformed from passion to profession.
Ward’s artistic journey took flight at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture, where he began as an apprentice in 1997-1998 before ascending to technical teaching staff specializing in metal chasing. His expertise in sculptural techniques was further honed through his participation in a landmark project with the Museum of Natural History in New York, where he served on an eight-person team assisting with the assembly of the biggest, most complete and most controversial T-Rex specimen ever discovered, SUE.
Among more than two dozen artists with studios located on the GFS campus, his practice spans sculpture, painting, and textile arts, with a distinctive approach centered on plaster bandage as his primary medium. Ward’s sculptures marry diverse materials—steel, newspaper, wood, Styrofoam, cardboard, cowrie shells, and various metals—into forms that pulse with geometric precision and mythological resonance.
Ward’s work predates the visual language of Afrofuturism, drawing inspiration from the rich cultural traditions of the African Diaspora, Australian Aborigines, Native Americans, and Maori peoples. His celebrated Animism series and suspended Fluidity series traverse the boundaries between ancestral wisdom and futuristic exploration, creating portals where earthbound materials ascend into celestial revelations.
www.cliffward.net
Photo: Roshni Khatri
