Walton Ford

Walton Ford was born in 1960 in White Plains, New York, though his family had lived in the South for generations. Georgia was home to his mother's family; his father's ancestors had lived in Tennessee since the eighteenth century. His deep Southern roots have played a part in his sensitivity to nature's bounty, especially since hunting, fishing, and outdoor sports remain core recreations of Southern gentlemen, many of whom aspire even today to continue the rural pursuits of their ancestors. John James Audubon, who lived for many years south of the Mason-Dixon Line, has come to epitomize the traditional Southern gentleman/amateur naturalist. From an early age Ford was aware of Audubon and was attracted to the bright colors and graceful design elements that characterize his bird and animal illustrations. Later Ford studied Audubon's biography and scrutinized his influence within the context of his society. Audubon, arguably the leading American ornithologist of the nineteenth century, was responsible for killing thousands of animals in pursuit of his objective, a comprehensive recording of the birds of North America. Ford has been able to plumb the artist's views regarding such issues as race relations, religion, and politics. These revelations are discordant, in light of contemporary attitudes.

Ford has been drawing since childhood. In 1982 he received a B.A. in fine art from Rhode Island School of Design, where he also studied filmmaking. He spent his last year of school in Italy studying Renaissance art. His eclectic approach includes urbane references to a wide variety of artists ranging from George Stubbs to Eugene Delacroix. Returning to the States, Ford lived and worked in New York City for many years and recently moved to Southfield, Massachusetts. Since 1989 he has received fellowships from the Pollock-Krasner Foundation (1989), New York Foundation for the Arts (1989), National Endowment for the Arts (1991), and John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation (1992). He and his family spent six months in India in 1992, and the experience resulted in both a greater awareness of Indian culture and a heightened familiarity with global economics and its impact on the planet.

Beginning in the late 1990s Ford became the subject of increased scrutiny and acclaim, as his provocative allegories and satirical creations gained a broader following. He has had three recent one-man exhibitions: Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art (1997), University Art Museum, California State University (1999), and Bowdoin College Museum of Art (2000).