Grounds For Sculpture presents Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World, on view in the Museum Building from May 18, 2025 through January 11, 2026, guest curated by Noah Smalls. Spanning over a decade of creative work, much of which was created at Clifford Ward’s studio on the Grounds For Sculpture campus, this exhibition 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.
This exhibition offers an opportunity for a unique collaboration between Grounds For Sculpture and Artworks in Trenton, NJ, which will present the prologue exhibition introducing select works, on view February 1 – April 12, 2025, curated by Addison Vincent, Artistic Director of Artworks. The inaugural exhibition at Artworks presents a first look at a sampling of Ward’s works, highlighting the individual impact of specific works from multiple series. The exhibition at Grounds For Sculpture will build on the Artworks exhibition by presenting Ward’s work in a larger context, revealing the complete narrative and the interconnectedness of his greater oeuvre.
Ward’s artistic journey, which began before the term Afrofuturism was formally recognized in the mainstream, aligns with Afrofuturist concepts, envisioning a Black future that reclaims and reinterprets the symbolism and history of the past. This is epitomized in his “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.
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.
About the Curator: Guest Curator Noah Smalls (he/him) is a museum consultant, exhibition designer, gallery director, and interpretive program developer. With a diverse portfolio of clients, including the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA), Mural Arts Philadelphia, the African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP), the Kentucky Center for African American Heritage, and the American Friends Service Committee, Smalls has left an indelible mark on numerous cultural institutions across the nation. He currently serves as the Director of Exhibitions and Collections Management at the esteemed Williams College Museum of Art in Massachusetts, as well as the Director of the vibrant Rush Arts Philadelphia Gallery in Pennsylvania. Smalls brings a depth of knowledge and artistic insight to his work, continually pushing boundaries and challenging the status quo. Driven by his mission to contribute to the ongoing transition of the museum field, he is dedicated to creating spaces that showcase art and serve as platforms for dialogue, education, and social change. His vision for the future of museums embraces diversity and accessibility, ensuring that art remains a powerful tool for transformation and enlightenment.
Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World is made possible by generous exhibition support from Julie and Michael Nachamkin. Additional support is provided by the Brooke Barrie Art Fund, NRG Energy, and Marjorie Ogilvie. Support is provided in part by the Atlantic Foundation, The New Jersey State Council on the Arts, a division of the NJ Department of State, and a partner agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation.
