Walton Ford

Walton Ford is an American artist known for large, dramatic watercolors of animals that look at first like old natural history illustrations. Born in 1960, he paints birds and beasts in the meticulous style of nineteenth century naturalists such as Audubon, but fills his scenes with violence, humor, and hidden meaning. His animals often act out fables about greed, colonialism, and the collision between humans and nature.

Each painting tends to come loaded with symbols and references, rewarding a close read. Behind the beautiful, antique-looking surface there is sharp modern commentary. Ford's blend of gorgeous technique and unsettling storytelling has made him a distinctive and popular figure in contemporary art.