More than 10 years of work exploring the collective human experience is featured in “Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me a World,” the recently opened major exhibit in the Museum Building at Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton.
The show, guest curated by Noah Smalls, remains on view through January 11, 2026.
Much of work displayed in the exhibit was created at Clifford Ward’s studio on the GFS campus, and the collection presents a rich tapestry of themes and concepts in his expansive practice. Ward is inspired by a diverse array of cultural influences, including contributions from the African diaspora, Australian Aboriginal people, and Native American and Māori cultures.
His work often explores geometry, Cubism, mythology, and anthropomorphism. Together, these myriad influences, themes and concepts transcend temporal and geographical confines, resonating with the collective human experience.
“We’re delighted to showcase an extensive body of work from an artist with whom we have a long-standing relationship,” said Kathleen Greene, chief audience officer at Grounds For Sculpture. “The diverse cultural narratives woven into Ward’s wide-ranging artistic practice will be relatable to both existing and new audiences, including those of our nearby collaborator, Artworks Trenton.”
This exhibition is also the culmination of a unique collaboration between Grounds For Sculpture and Artworks Trenton, NJ, which showed “Clifford Ward: I’LL MAKE ME A WORLD, prologue,” from February through April of this year. Curated by Addison Vincent, artistic director of Artworks Trenton, the preceding exhibition introduced a sampling of Ward’s works, highlighting the individual impact of specific works from multiple series.
The exhibition at GFS builds on the Artworks exhibition by presenting Ward’s work in a larger context, revealing the complete narrative and the interconnectedness of his greater oeuvre.
“We are excited to present Clifford Ward’s exhibition at Artworks Trenton. His talent for engaging and inspiring audiences perfectly complements our mission to nurture creativity and artistic expression within the community. Furthermore, his work embodies the ideals of Black History Month, extending its significance beyond the month of February,” Vincent said.
Ward’s artistic journey envisions a Black future that reclaims and reinterprets the symbolism and history of the past. Conceptually, it aligns with Afrofuturism, a cultural aesthetic with roots in the mid-20th century. The aesthetic weaves together science fiction, history and fantasy to explore Black experiences and imagine liberatory futures.
This is embodied by Ward’s “Animism” series, a body of work featuring totemic figures displaying intricate geometries, mythologies, textures, and symbols. Despite their ethereal origins, these sculptures firmly root themselves in the present moment. These works also demonstrate a sculptural process that Ward has developed and refined over many years: wrapping plaster bandages around a supporting armature, which is reinforced and shaped with a variety of materials, such as steel, wood, Styrofoam, cardboard, and newspaper, and subsequently finished with shellac, brown wax, and acrylic paint.
“Having always felt the inclination to create, I made a significant piece one night using a long balloon wrapped around a cranberry juice jar, applied paper mâché, and painted it. This simple piece was the impetus that changed my life — leading to my becoming a professional artist,” Ward said in a GFS press statement ahead of the exhibit.
“Since then, I’ve expanded this technique to create wall reliefs and figures ranging from six feet to nine feet, and I look forward to sharing approximately 60 works that use this technique at my upcoming exhibition at Ground For Sculpture.”
“I am deeply honored to curate this exhibition alongside Clifford Ward, whose unwavering vision and dedication to his masterful artistic practice has been a constant source of inspiration throughout this project,” added the exhibition’s curator, Noah Smalls, a museum consultant, exhibition designer, gallery director, and interpretive program developer who currently serves as director of exhibitions and collections management at the Williams College Museum of Art in Massachusetts and director of the Rush Arts Philadelphia Gallery in Pennsylvania.
“Much of the work Clifford has created over the past decade has never been exhibited before, and it is with great excitement that I look forward to sharing these extraordinary pieces with the GFS community and audiences beyond,” Smalls said.
This solo exhibition of Ward’s work not only celebrates Afrofuturism as a dynamic artistic genre, but also underscores its evolution and potential future directions within visual culture. It encourages audiences to engage deeply with diverse cultural narratives, transcending temporal and spatial boundaries to address themes that are simultaneously timeless and forward-thinking. It invites viewers to embark on a journey of exploration and introspection, hopefully challenging them to reconsider their perspectives on identity, history, and the future.
I’ll Make Me a World, Grounds For Sculpture, 80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton. On view through January 11, 2026. www.groundsforsculpture.org.
