A Day in the World of Clifford Ward, Featured Artist at Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture is a unique blend of arboretum and outdoor art museum spanning 42 acres in Hamilton, New Jersey.

As its namesake promises, this garden is renowned for its breathtaking sculptures.

Foci, 2010 by Chakaia Booker

The Museum Building at Grounds for Sculpture features dynamic indoor exhibitions that change annually. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to attend a Press Preview of their latest exhibit before it even opened to the public: Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World will be on view from May 18, 2025 — January 11, 2026. This exhibition was sublime, and I can’t wait to tell you all about it! 

The Artist

Clifford Ward is an artist with a background in a variety of fields from pre-med studies to speech communications. Creating art was always a passion for him, and when the textbook publishing company he worked for went out of business, he eventually became a full-time artist. He has a studio on the Grounds for Sculpture campus. 

Clifford Ward speaking about his artwork during the Press Preview for I’ll Make Me a World

It was such a treat to get to walk through the exhibit with the artist who created it all, hear the stories behind each piece featured, and get a glimpse into Ward’s mind and creative process. 

The Exhibit

Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World is a two-floor exhibition guest curated by Noah Smalls and includes roughly 60 works spanning over a decade of Ward’s artistic journey. Below, I share three of my favorite pieces from I’ll Make Me A World.

1. Animism

Animism is the pièce de résistance! I can’t even begin to describe how awe-inspiring it is.

Take look at the artist, Ward, and me in front of Animism. The towering figures are larger than life and absolutely dwarf us! 

This body of work features afro-futuristic totemic sculptures, each standing on square black panels that are 48” by 48”. The beauty of this collection of 24 figures is that they are intricately designed from all angles – this is a piece that you can visit again and again and still find something new to marvel at. 

Every piece is mirrored, and each anthropomorphic sculpture was done in the order that they’re standing. That is to say, the pieces in the front were created first, and Ward finished the pieces in the back last. Every statue has a name and a story behind it. The first two are aptly named “Genesis.” The last two are called “Guardians of Past History.” The winged figures with are the “Winged Messengers,” and the hooded sculptures are the “Griots,” the intelligencia of the community. 

Ward shared that Animism took him 12 years to create! This exhibition was the first time he got to see Animism all together. Isn’t that phenomenal?

All the colorful and textural design work you see is improvisational – it’s the dessert he gets to enjoy after he builds each sculpture.

2. Miracle of the Smiling Mom 98, 2024

I really loved the story behind this piece. Miracle of the Smiling Mom 98 is a dynamic wall art piece featuring 98 tiles to respect each of the years of his mother’s life. 

There are a four colorful tiles that pop out. The fifth tile represents her birthday month: May. The seventeenth tile signifies her the year she was born: 1917. Tile 21 is colorful because she was born on the 21^st of May. Finally, the last tile, number 98, is a photo of his beautiful mom as a nod to the number of years she lived.

3. Within the News, 2024 

At a first glance, this piece is understated – but it’s a deliciously decadent feast when you approach it up close. 

The rustic frame is a beautiful, copper brown, with black and white corners that reflect the colors of the painted figure within. The canvas of this painting is composed of thin strips of newspaper, which have been shellacked and interwoven to create the appearance of tiny squares. Not only is the work itself stunning, but it’s mind-blowing to think of how much time Ward spent designing and creating this piece. I asked him how many newspapers were used. The answer? Countless! A friend would often bring stacks of newspapers to his atelier, and he integrated many into this piece. 

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There’s so much to see here that I can’t cover it all in one blog post. You really have to visit this exhibit for yourself. Almost no surface of the museum is untouched. Even the space under the staircase features a piece called Untitled. 

This textural, sleeping figure sports horns adorned with colorful crayons that Ward melted with a propane torch. Amazing!!

Accessibility

The main path at this garden is paved, although there are smaller, meandering paths of gravel and sand. The Welcome Center offers Electric Convenience Vehicle and wheelchair rentals on a first come, first serve basis.

For all visitors, I recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes you don’t mind getting a little dirty, especially if it’s raining.

Many thanks to the Press Office at Grounds for Sculpture for inviting me to attend the Press Preview. Learn more about Clifford Ward: I’ll Make Me A World here. Again, this exhibit will be on view from May 18, 2025 — January 11, 2026. Book your visit at Grounds for Sculpture today. Don’t miss out! 

Have you been to Grounds for Sculpture before? What’s one of your favorite art pieces there?