artist statement

Art & design are my vehicles of transformation and connection. Sometimes it’s like having a key to a time machine. Art gives form, color and space to the songs of the soul; while design provides a practical, functional beauty. I hope that my work can be a crossroads of culture - where people from all directions can experience something profoundly universal. A culture of truth, compassion, freedom and expression. I see my work as a duty of faith, service and manifestation. A way of understanding life and sharing my energy with others.

I work like an artist-inventor in a variety of media. Many of my collage paintings are individual in spirit, though I typically work in series. During the pandemic I’ve been exploring sculpture, developing processes and techniques in the studio. My current body of work is a spiritually-charged experience combining painting, sculpture and collage. A communion between human imagination and infinite patterns found in nature.

If you would like to learn more about my work, please feel free to reach out or connect with me on Instagram.

( last updated: January 2022 )


press

2023 — Artists & Illustrators magazine, The Big Interview - January 2023 issue

2021 — Guzzo. The Sans of Humor, Monotype

2020 — 27 New Midcentury Modern Artists To Watch, Obsessed With Art

2020 — Artist Talk with Art Dose Magazine

2018 — Artist Spotlight, PictureFrames.com interview

2017 — Jim Ford and The Sounds of Typography, Type Mag

2016 — Posterama: A Journey Through Space & Type, Monotype

2015 — The Art of a Heartfelt Redesign, The Atlantic

2015 — Font Marathon, I Love Typography

2015 — Two Typefaces, Five Days, Fast Company

2015 — Typographica’s Best Fonts of 2014, Quire Sans review

2014 — Pilcrows & Poker Chips: an interview with Jim Ford, Shady Characters

2014 — Quire Sans: An Interview with a Type Designer, Mohawk, Felt & Wire


exhibition

2023 — Gallery Night Milwaukee (group), Eagleknit Building, July 21-22

2022 — Signs of Spring, Ormson Supply, February-March

2021 — Full Bleed (solo), UW Whitewater, August

2021 — The Other Art Fair, Brooklyn Expo Center, July 22-25

2021 — WVA Artist Showcase (group), Cedarburg Cultural Center, July - Aug

2020 — Creating A New Whole (juried), Center For Visual Arts Wausau, Summer

2020 — Rhyme Or Reason (group), Scout Gallery, May - June

2020 — The Art of Collage II (group), Frank Juarez Gallery, May

2020 — Schwitters Army (group), MERZ Gallery, Scotland. Winter

2019 — Literally (solo), Greenfield Library, Greenfield, WI. November

2019 — High Fleaux (solo), Gallery 2622, Wauwatosa, WI. October

2019 — The Eleven (group), Scout Gallery, Milwaukee, WI. June-July

2019 — Breakers & Bastards (solo), Grove Gallery, Milwaukee, WI. Jan-Feb

2018 — The Other Art Fair, Mana Contemporary, Chicago, IL

2016 — Dada Centennial Exhibition, Museum of Collage. Santa Fe, NM

2013 — Red Bull Curates, Lacuna Artist Lofts. Chicago, IL

2011 — Meshed, Black Cloud Gallery. Chicago, IL

2011 — Flatstock 30 at Pitchfork Fest. Chicago, IL

2011 — Grand Opening show, Gallery F. Chicago, IL

2010 — InkBomb, Empty Bottle. Chicago, IL (curator)


publication

2023 — Artists & Illustrators magazine, The Big Interview, January 2023 issue

2021 — Collage Care by Laurie Kanyer. Art contribution.

2020 — Cut Me Up Magazine Issue 4: Turning Point, full-page art feature

2019 — Kolaj Magazine, cover and Artist Portfolio

2019 — Milwaukee Magazine, July issue, art featured

2018 — art featured in PictureFrames.com catalogs and brochures

2017 — Graphis Gold Award for Masqualero, Typography 4 annual

2015 — Slanted Magazine #25. Art contribution.

2012 — The 22 Magazine: Volume 3. Feature, interview.

2011 — N-Spheres Magazine, April 2011. Cover, feature, interview.

2011 — Modern Vintage Illustration, by Martin Dawber. Poster art.


education

BFA Graphic Design, Columbia College Chicago. 2001 – 2005

Associates in Art, College of Lake County. 1999 – 2001


colophon

JFS logotype designed with Posterama. Website text set in Quire Sans, headlines set in Masqualero. Posterama, Quire Sans and Masqualero are trademarks of Monotype Imaging Inc. All artwork and images Copyright © 2011-2023 Jim Ford Studios, LLC. All rights reserved.