Michael James Ward

Raw and uninhibited, the mixed media works by award winning artist, Michael James Ward, deal with political, religious and social issues with an in-your-face style. His highly expressive approach features Technicolor cityscapes and suburbs that form a backdrop in many of the paintings, including a characteristic flattening of space and fierce, untamed line work. “My art is very instinctual and very primal, so my hope for someone seeing it for the first time is that it gives them a sense of déjà vu,” explains Ward. There is a perceptible menacing stance that underlies the mood of many works, as faces loom out with jagged, razor sharp teeth and the limbs of figures are transformed into weaponry. There is a sense that Ward is thoughtfully processing these difficult societal issues rather than glorifying them, as if through the creative process he is coming to terms with a variety of the world’s ills.

Michael James Ward's fascinating body of work will undoubtedly be explored for years to come. He lives and works outside of Pittsburgh.