The museum of modern arts only walton ford is a small printa version of bangalore. Walton ford is an american artist who makes paintings and prints in the style of naturalist. Jan 01, 2009 i first saw walton ford s enormous and unsettling paintings at the louisiana museum of modern art outside of copenhagen. Since his childhood he was into art, so he started to draw with his elder brother enfield. Powered by create your own unique website with customizable templates. Walton fords tur is an allegory rendered in the style of nineteenthcentury naturalists illustrations.
Walton ford is an american painter, known for depicting wildlife in his monumental paintings. In this unprecedented new book, writer zoe lescaze and artist walton ford present the astonishing history of paleoart from 1830 to 1990. Walton fords fabulously detailed, audubononviagra watercolors have been flying off gallery walls even if most of his audience is baffled by the peculiar birds and beasts that populate his. Fords work is included in a number of collections, including the. Since the 1990s, walton ford has been retrospectively caught up in the nineteenth centurys obsession with nature, back when the mountains were crawling with lions, and the sky was full of birds. Oct 21, 2002 walton ford s fabulously detailed, audubononviagra watercolors have been flying off gallery walls even if most of his audience is baffled by the peculiar birds and beasts that populate his. The beasts and birds populating this contemporary artists lifesize paintings.
His work is included in numerous collections, including the smithsonian american art museum and the whitney museum of american art. Ford has previously exhibited in europe, notably walton ford. Pancha tantra is signed by the artist and presented in a custom clamshell box. Pancha tantra mul by bill buford, walton ford isbn. The watercolors of walton ford centric unknown binding. Walton ford is one of a few contemporary artists that i like. But a closer look reveals a complex and disturbingly anthropomorphic universe, full of symbols, sly jokes, and allusions to the operatic nature of traditional natural history themes. Although immediately reminiscent of traditional natural history painting, fords images double as complex allegories, blending depictions of nature with historical events and sociopolitical commentary. Pancha tantra 1st by buford, bill, ford, walton isbn. Each painting is as much a tutorial in flora and fauna as it is as a scathing indictment of the wrongs.
In addition to years of representing and cultivating important contemporary artists careers such as ron arad, tina barney, walton. The artist was born in 1960 in larchmont, new york. At first glance, walton fords largescale, highlydetailed watercolors of animals may recall the prints of 19th century illustrators john james audubon and edward lear, and others of the colonial era. Fords paintings include jokes, symbols, and clues referenced from colonial literature. Walton ford born 1960 in larchmont, new york is an american artist who makes paintings and prints in the style of naturalist illustrations, often depicting extinct species. Walton ford artist bio and information kasmin gallery is committed to supporting an ongoing intellectual and visual dialogue with influential modern and. His work is included in the collections of the museum of modern art, new york. Books art, design and architecture tagged walton ford. Walton ford, born 1960, studied filmmaking at risd rhode island. Walton ford, jamie nares, and vincent fremont share memories of the late new york art dealer paul kasmin.
Pancha tantra showcases a menagerie of his bestial tableaus like primates plundering a dinner party or the elephant bird of madagascar now extinct as it struggles to escape a noose. Dec 16, 2018 since the 1990s, walton ford has been retrospectively caught up in the nineteenth centurys obsession with nature, back when the mountains were crawling with lions, and the sky was full of birds. The sinister majesty of walton fords wildlife at first glance, walton. Walton ford pancha tantra, collectors edition 2007. Art21 produces the peabody awardwinning pbsbroadcast series. His watercolor pieces have a double meaning that connects nature with historical events and leave sociopolitical commentary. Walton ford has been depicting animals for as long as he can remember.
This artist monograph collects all the paintings walton ford has created over the past 25 years, and its a massive tome of a book. Ford is never interested merely in the natural world, but in the way humans have. Walton fords work is included in a number of private and public collections, including the smithsonian american art museum and the whitney museum of american art. His new series barbary, on display at kasmins new gallery in chelsea, is a study of the barbary lion. Pancha tantra, taschen books, koln, germany 2nd edition. His work has been widely exhibited, including shows at the whitney and brooklyn museums. See more ideas about walton ford, ford and artwork. Really good reproductions along with detail shots which is what i look for in art books. The whitney acquired a complete set of his largescale prints, and included them in a group show in.
Discover book depositorys huge selection of walton ford books online. These are not cave paintings produced thousands of years ago, but modern visions of prehistory. Inside walton fords brutal world of man and beast the. His midcareer retrospective traveled from the hamburger bahnhof museum fur gegenwart in berlin, to the albertina in vienna and to the louisiana museum of modern art in denmark in. In the classic hollywood horror film pitch, im saying, the animals rise out of the pits and come and attack contemporary l. This book provides an indepth exploration of walton fords oeuvre.
Artists and their materials from the studio to crowdsourcing. Walton fords monumental watercolors expand the visual language and narrative scope of traditional natural history painting, meditating on the often violent and bizarre moments at the intersection of human culture and the natural world. Walton ford, visitation, 2004, color etching, aquatint, spitbite and drypoint on paper, smithsonian american art museum, museum purchase through the luisita. Walton ford falling bough, 2002 photo of the artist and the paul kasmin gallery walton fords education and inspiration. Choose from 1 authentic walton ford books for sale on 1stdibs. Art21 is a celebrated global leader in presenting thoughtprovoking and sophisticated content about contemporary art, and the goto place to learn firsthand from the artists of our time. Fords work has been featured at bowdoin college museum of art, southeastern center for contemporary art, whitney museum of american art at champion, and forum. Walton ford with jason rosenfeld the brooklyn rail. His work is known to feature animals depicted in a style that mimics nature illustrations by the likes of john james audubon and karl bodmer. See more ideas about walton ford, ford and illustration art. Available in an art and a collectors edition, walton ford. Printed in 1510, it imagines the early history of the american pacific coast, and a race of african warrior women accompanied by a fierce army of man.
Peter pettengill and walton ford have been working together for nearly 20 years. But at present, my favorite is walton fords pancha tantra. Find an indepth biography, exhibitions, original artworks for sale, the latest news, and sold auction prices. Walton ford 2014 by taschen and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Fords midcareer retrospective traveled from the hamburger bahnhof museum fur gegenwart berlin, to the albertina vienna and to the louisiana museum. Walton ford watercolors kasmin gallery is committed to supporting an ongoing intellectual and visual dialogue with influential modern and contemporary artists, representing several generations of internationally recognized artists working in a variety of media. Artist walton ford on his wildlife paintings the 54yearold artist has become famous for monumental wildlife pieces that bring a primal kingdom indoors. Walton ford, born 1960 in larchmont, ny, graduated in filmmaking from risd, but switched to largescale watercolor painting. Walton ford is a contemporary american painter known for his largescale precise illustrations of animals. His work is daringly different in how it embraces painting as a beautiful medium and how it at once recalls 19th century artists notably audubon and speaks to modern problems. Walton ford on the very convincing depiction of hell in the last judgment the artist project duration. At first glance, walton fords largescale, highlydetailed watercolors of animals recall the prints of 19thcentury illustrators john james audubon and edward lear. An updated edition of pancha tantra, walton fords majestic yet menacing animal menagerie. Walton ford is an american artist, born 1960 in larchmont, new york.
Naming one favorite taschen book makes you an instant betrayer of many other great taschen treasures. I was unprepared to be so overwhelmed by the drama and detail of ford s outsized paintings, many of which also lead the viewer to confront uncomfortable scenes of orientalism and colonialism through his anthropomorphized animal characters. Prize of the herd in this book may be the multipanel painting of a male elephant on heat, titled nila. Walton fords massive watercolors reference the traditions of 19th century zoological illustrations and symbolist paintings with a modern twist. Turning the work of naturalist and painter john james audubon on its head, walton ford imbues the flora and fauna in his own watercolors and prints with sex, violence, and melodrama. Bestiarium at berlins hamburger bahnhof in 2010, the paris show is the artists first in france. Walton ford new tricks for ancient wings for sale artspace.
A closer look reveals a complex anthropomorphic universe, full of symbols, sly jokes, and allusions. His aim is to satirically comment on the history of colonialism, slavery, and other forms of oppression. Walton ford was born in larchmont, new york in 1960, and currently lives and works in new york, ny. Each of his paintings is a meticulous, realistic study in flora and fauna, and is filled with symbols, clues, and jokes referencing texts ranging from colonial literature. Walton ford is the recipient of several national awards and honors, including a fellowship from the john simon guggenheim memorial foundation and the national endowment for the arts. Painted with the deft technique of a technical artist, fords works vibrate with an intensity. But a closer look reveals a complex and disturbingly anthropomorphic universe, full of symbols, sly jokes, and allusions to the. Although human figures rarely appear in his paintings, their presence is always implied. His art expresses the unbreakable relation between the humans and the animal world. In addition to years of representing and cultivating important contemporary artists careers such as ron arad, tina. It centers on an aurochs, the huge ancestor of cattle that was hunted on royal polish preserves until 1627, when the last of the species was killed.
Walton ford lives and works in new york, ny, and his work is included in a number of private and public collections, including the minneapolis institute of art, smithsonian american art museum, whitney museum of american art, and many others. Walton ford s tur is an allegory rendered in the style of nineteenthcentury naturalists illustrations. In its beauty and splendor, it confirms what we already know. Jan 17, 2008 walton ford on the very convincing depiction of hell in the last judgment the artist project duration. The first book to address the significance of the materials and methods used. Over the last twenty years, ford has created more than one hundred paintings and prints with birds as the primary subject. See available prints and multiples, works on paper, and paintings for sale and learn about the artist. While he is usually compared to john james audubon, walton ford. A nonprofit organization, art21s mission is to inspire a more creative world through the works and words of contemporary artists. Explore all collectibles and curiosities created by walton ford. Available for sale from taschen, walton ford, pancha tantra, collectors edition 2007, hardcover in clamshell box with print in portfolio, 19 710. New tricks for ancient wings is a sharp mashup of naturalist illustrations. Buford, bill and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. Both editions feature a complete biography and excerpts from the textual sources for the paintings.
Blending depictions of natural history with political commentary, walton fords meticulously painted largescale watercolors satirize the history of colonialism and the continuing impact of slavery and other forms of political oppression on todays social and environmental landscape. It is wonderfully anachronistic, as artist walton ford has carefully rendered this archaeopteryxan early bird from the time of the dinosaursin unmistakable audubon likeness. Walton ford artist bio and information kasmin gallery is committed to supporting an ongoing intellectual and visual dialogue with influential modern and contemporary artists, representing several generations of internationally recognized artists working in a variety of media. However, pretty much the same as the other, cheaper walton ford book.
His works can be described as allegories, which means that viewers can only see the. Walton ford born 1960 grew up in the hudson valley and lives and works in new york. The sinister majesty of walton fords wildlife at first glance, walton fords largescale, highlydetailed watercolors of animals may recall the prints of 19th century illustrators john james audubon and edward lear, and others of the colonial era. Vietnamese folktales, the letters of benjamin franklin, the autobiography of benvenuto cellini and john. Ford s paintings include jokes, symbols, and clues referenced from colonial literature. Edition actualisee du pancha tantra, une menagerie majestueuse mais menacante. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Indeed it couldnt be simpler to buy cheap art textbooks from our vast collection of thousands right now. Wingate studio is based in the connecticut river valley, and under directors peter pettengill, james pettengill, and alyssa robb, the studio produces and publishes printed editions, books, and special projects with contemporary artists.