Clifford Ward

“Collaborating with other artists has influenced and widened my perspective”

Clifford Ward is a Philadelphia sculptor and painter who works in his studio at the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ, where he has also taught, lectured, and shown his art. His work has also been exhibited in many solo and group shows in major museums and galleries in several states. He is currently working on an "army" of 24, 6-9 foot figures, for a project titled "Animism," which was inspired by the Terracotta Warriors of China.

In 1997 he began an apprenticeship at the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture on the Grounds for Sculpture, and then became part of the technical teaching staff working with approximately 80 artists from around the globe, including Kiki Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Joyce J. Scott, and Seward Johnson. Through his work at the atelier, Cliff also worked with a team from the New York Museum of Natural History on the installation of SUE, a forged metal reinforced tyrannosaurus skeleton, at The Field Museum in Chicago.

Earlier in his life, Cliff had a career in educational publishing.  Currently, he teaches art at the Center for Creative Works in Wynnewood that works with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. 

What big ideas have propelled your career?

“There were a number of experiences/big ideas in my life that has propelled my career! After leaving my corporate job, I decided to develop my passion that, at the time, I did not know existed. Having become dedicated to my passion I began to make all of the necessary steps to pursue my destiny.
In 1997 I was accepted as an apprentice at the the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture which is located on the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ. This was my initial introduction to my new world and propelled my career to a professional and sophisticated level and gave me the confidence to believe in my destiny while learning the technical side of casting in metal. After a year as an apprentice, I was hired in Metal Chasing and then became part of the technical teaching staff working with approximately 80 artists from around the globe, literally. I grew tremendously. The Johnson Atelier allowed my creative mind to flourish; this was my beginning.

At the Johnson Atelier I had the pleasure of working with Kiki Smith, Elizabeth Catlett, Joyce J. Scott, Seward Johnson and others. I learned an abundant of ideas and technical methods having worked with them. This gave me another boost to my career. I perfected and refined my technical and aesthetic skills. I learned about galleries, museums, and the art world from their perspective and it made a huge impact on me.

Probably the most important project that helped to shape and propelled my career was joining the team from the New Your Museum of Natural History who specialized in dioramas and paleontology articulation. The team consisted of 4 workers from the museum and 4 chosen artists from the Johnson Atelier. I was lucky to be chosen to join them. SUE, the biggest, most complete and most controversial dinosaur,Tyrannosaurus, ever found. Sue was auctioned at Sotherby’s in NY and was bought by Disney, McDonald and the Field Museum of Chicago where she is now housed. It was here that I learned to forge metal and did so in a very artistic way. The goal was to take these 65 million year old bones and allow the dinosaur to stand as if caught in time in a split second stance. It was working on this project that catapulted my career by learning the art of forging metal in a very refined and artistic way,

Another project influential to my art career was working with Joyce J. Scott (McCarther Fellow) to design a stylized 15 ft version of Harriet Tubman made of dirt, sand, clay straw and a bit of cement. My own art consists of adding material to my work; but this project involved removing material. I had never worked in this manner before. So again another dimension served as an impetus for my own art and its development.

There were a number of experiences/big ideas in my life that hahas propelled my career! After leaving my corporate job, I decided to develop a passion that, at the time, I didn’t know existed. Having become dedicated to my passion I began to make all of the necessary steps to pursue.”

Biography:

I am an artist specializing in sculpture, but I also paint. My studio is located on the Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ.

My art career began after a “career” in educational publishing. I discovered my ability for art during this time and made all the necessary adjustments needed to pursue my career and passion. I entered the Johnson Atelier Technical Institute of Sculpture which is located on the Grounds for Sculpture. It was here that I became proficient in the art of metal casting. I began as an apprentice; one year later I was hired on staff; and then became part of the technical teaching staff in metal chasing. I have had many shows over the years in NY, NJ, PA, CA etc. These were both group and solo shows; but my goal is to present my work in major museums and galleries.

It is at the Johnson Atelier that my career has flourished and my exposure to a collective group of international artists. I have been active on the Grounds for Sculpture community for years: both teaching, showing and lecturing.

For the past 9 years, I have worked for a program called Center for Creative Works in Wynnwood, PA. It is here that I work with adults with developmental and intellectual disabilities. This is an art -based program, specializing in most genres of art. Presently, I am working exclusively with one individual who is a great artist. He has Down's Syndrome, Autism and a touch of schizophrenia. Having worked with approximately 10 participants per day, I now only have this one artist who is extremely talented and prolific.

Currently, I am working on an "army" of 24, 6-9ft figures. The primary material is plaster bandage. Having worked on this project titled, "Animism" I now have 16 finished. The impetus of this work has been my love of the The Terra Cotta Warriors of China; subsequently, I developed some new techniques which continues to strengthen my work.

Two years ago I built a 15' figure for McCarther Fellow, Joyce J. Scott. This was done using dirt, clay, sawdust, and cement. Ms Scott wanted this figure, Harriet Tubman, made of this material so that it can erode over time like the memory of Harriet Tubman. This was a very challenging and rewarding experience and proved to be a successful show.

My career has taken many paths, but the manifestation of my efforts has shown in many project I have been involved.