Walton Ford’s paintings of wild animals combine the austere mastery of New England-style naturalism with a dark sexuality and satirical humor.
Ford’s latest project is Pancha Tantra, a signed and numbered edition from Taschen; its title is a reference to the Sanskrit tradition of animal fables as sociopolitical commentary. The artist’s exotic birds of prey, equine species, and their surreal orgies, tea parties, and surroundings act as metaphorical indictments of the insatiability and violence of his own species’ appetites.
Preview Pancha Tantra in full, buy a limited-edition copy, check out original paintings, read interviews from Ford’s Art 21 appearance, and see a slide show of the artist at work.
Walton Ford: from Pancha Tantra
Walton Ford: Nila, from Pancha Tantra
Walton Ford: The Prodigy, from Pancha Tantra
Walton Ford: Le Jardin, from Pancha Tantra
Walton Ford: from Pancha Tantra
Walton Ford, courtesy of Art21
Comments (6)
Ford with stocking cap in a studio? Can't take him seriously.
Ignore him, Walton. Love the stocking cap. Keeping it cozy and real.
You should see the crazy S#!t I wear in the studio! Often they're lofty spaces with no heating.
He could be wearing a top hat for all I care. His artwork blows a big fucking hole in the Edifice of Stupid that is "Modern Art". A solid concept, command of craft, and execution are superlative. Ford is the real deal.
For more comments on why Post-Modern Art is bankrupt, and why we shouldn't give two shits: http://mrprepress.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/post-m…
beautiful and profound work. superbly executed. Where can it be seen in the flesh? ignore moronic comment about hat x
I don't get it. Animals are, by and large, straight forward and honest. Who are these mythical creatures flaunting all that is debased and debauched about mankind? What's going on in the artist's mind?
The artist is using animals as a mirror of our own selves in society. Birds are known thieves , very opportunistic and predatory and yet most are good parents and mate for life.Wonderful to observe but get too close and you will be pecked…
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