John Ward Art Background

John Ward is a Canadian painter. He was born in Dublin, Ireland, in 1948.

In 1965, he began his career as a scenic artist at Ardmore Film Studios.

He immigrated to Canada in 1969.

In Toronto he worked briefly as an illustrator, before quitting in 1974 to paint.

His paintings and serigraphs have been exhibited widely in Canada, with some

international exhibition exposure. His works are in many private, corporate,

and public collections.

“It has been said that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Likewise, the essence of visual art cannot be adequately explained in language. Visual art is its own language. Yet it has existed in the shadow of academic language for so long that it is a testament to the subject’s resilience

that it has survived at all.

Some say that visual art has run its course, that we live in an era that will be remembered as post-art. Had I taken direction from “contemporary art’s” penchant for dogma and ignored my own views, boredom would have closed me down long ago. Visual art as an intellectual construct, especially when

based on someone else’s ideas, holds no appeal for me.

As I went further into the place I call “Entering Nature,” I realized that my subject matter ultimately became a vehicle for light, colour, and the mystery that surrounds us.”

– John Ward

“It has been said that writing about music is like dancing about architecture. Likewise, the essence of visual art cannot be adequately explained in

language. Visual art is its own language. Yet it has existed in the shadow of academic language for so long that it is a testament to the subject’s resilience

that it has survived at all.

Some say that visual art has run its course, that we live in an era that will be remembered as post-art. Had I taken direction from “contemporary art’s”

penchant for dogma and ignored my own views, boredom would have closed

me down long ago. Visual art as an intellectual construct, especially when

based on someone else’s ideas, holds no appeal for me.

As I went further into the place I call “Entering Nature,” I realized that my subject matter ultimately became a vehicle for light, colour, and the mystery that

surrounds us.”

– John Ward