Nari Ward

Biography

Nari Ward (b. 1963, St. Andrews, Jamaica) Ward’s dramatic sculptural installations are composed of systematically collected material from his urban neighborhood. By revealing the numerous emotions inherent within found everyday objects, Ward’s works examine issues surrounding race, poverty, and consumer culture.

Ward has an extensive exhibition history having participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions around the world. Recent solo exhibitions include Episodes at the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA (2002); Rites of Way at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis, (2002); The Refinery X: A small twist of fate at the Palazzo delle Papesse-Centro Arte Contemporanea, Siena, Italy, (2006);Nari Ward: 2005-2010 at the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, Kansas (2010); and LIVESupport at Lehmann Maupin Gallery (2010). Recent group exhibitions include Documenta XI, Kassel (2003); the Whitney Biennial (2006); Contemplating the Void: Interventions in the Guggenheim Museum at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, (2010); 30 Seconds off an inch at the Studio Museum Harlem, New York (2010); Transparancey, Art for Renewable Energy at MACRO, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea, Rome, (2010). In April 2011, Nari Ward opened Nari Ward: Sub Mirage Lignum at MASS MoCA.

Ward has received commissions from the United Nations and the World Health Organization, and awards from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, the National Endowment for the Arts, New York Foundation for the Arts, John Simon Guggenheim Foundation, and the Pollock Krasner Foundation. Nari Ward currently lives and works in New York. To download artist's CV, please click on "Printable PDF of Full Text."

Nari Ward photographed by Lina Bertucci, New York, 1993
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Gallery Exhibitions

• Frieze New York, Booth C10 - May 4 - 7, 2012
• Nari Ward, Liberty and Orders - March 29 - April 21, 2012
• VIP Art Fair 2012 - February 3 - 8, 2012
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, Booth K15 - December 1 - 4, 2011
• Art 42 Basel, Booth J9 - June 15 - 19, 2011
• VIP Art Fair - January 22 - 30, 2011
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2010, Stand J16 - December 2 - 5, 2010
• Frieze Art Fair 2010, Booth B13 - October 14 - 17, 2010
• Art 41 Basel, Hall 2.1 Booth J8 - June 16 - 20, 2010
• Nari Ward, LIVESupport - February 25 - April 24, 2010
• The Armory Show 2010, Pier 94, Booth 911 - March 4 - 7, 2010
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2009, Booth F19 - December 3 - 6, 2009

Museum Exhibitions

• Frieze New York, Booth C10 - May 4 - 7, 2012
• Nari Ward, Liberty and Orders - March 29 - April 21, 2012
• VIP Art Fair 2012 - February 3 - 8, 2012
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, Booth K15 - December 1 - 4, 2011
• Art 42 Basel, Booth J9 - June 15 - 19, 2011
• VIP Art Fair - January 22 - 30, 2011
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2010, Stand J16 - December 2 - 5, 2010
• Frieze Art Fair 2010, Booth B13 - October 14 - 17, 2010
• Art 41 Basel, Hall 2.1 Booth J8 - June 16 - 20, 2010
• Nari Ward, LIVESupport - February 25 - April 24, 2010
• The Armory Show 2010, Pier 94, Booth 911 - March 4 - 7, 2010
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2009, Booth F19 - December 3 - 6, 2009

Public Projects

• Frieze New York, Booth C10 - May 4 - 7, 2012
• Nari Ward, Liberty and Orders - March 29 - April 21, 2012
• VIP Art Fair 2012 - February 3 - 8, 2012
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2011, Booth K15 - December 1 - 4, 2011
• Art 42 Basel, Booth J9 - June 15 - 19, 2011
• VIP Art Fair - January 22 - 30, 2011
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2010, Stand J16 - December 2 - 5, 2010
• Frieze Art Fair 2010, Booth B13 - October 14 - 17, 2010
• Art 41 Basel, Hall 2.1 Booth J8 - June 16 - 20, 2010
• Nari Ward, LIVESupport - February 25 - April 24, 2010
• The Armory Show 2010, Pier 94, Booth 911 - March 4 - 7, 2010
• Art Basel Miami Beach 2009, Booth F19 - December 3 - 6, 2009

Press

• V Magazine Download PDF ()
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• Philadelphia Weekly Download PDF ()
• New York Observer: Gallerist NY
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• Modern Painters Download PDF ()
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• International Review of African American Art Download PDF ()
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Selected Works

NARI WARD We the People, 2011 shoelaces LM15178 photo by Will Brown Courtesy of the Fabric Workshop and Museum


NARI WARD CarouSoul rope, tires, metal support, shoe tips, shoe tongues, and tire rims 246 x 144 x 144 inches 624.8 x 365.8 x 365.8 cm LM14501


NARI WARD CarouSoul (detail) rope, tires, metal support, shoe tips, shoe tongues, and tire rims 246 x 144 x 144 inches 624.8 x 365.8 x 365.8 cm LM14501


NARI WARD Third World Bank 6X6, 2010 vinyl banner, stencil ink, felt weather seal, shoe tips, shoe laces, cowrie shells, palm-fiber thatch 72 x 72 x 1.5 inches 182.9 x 182.9 x 3.8 cm LM13264


NARI WARD China Idle, 2010 used shoes, car tires, metal, screws 86.5 x 39.5 x 39.5 inches 219.7 x 100.3 x 100.3 cm LM13144


NARI WARD Crying Form; Rising Symbol, 2010 used shoe laces LM13266


NARI WARD Palace LiquorsouL, 2010 metal and neon sign, wood with artificial flowers, shoelaces and shoe tips 186 x 31 x 21 inches 472.4 x 78.7 x 53.3 cm LM12941


NARI WARD Sick Smoke, 2010 ambulance, smoke machine, halogen lights and vinyl 96 x 96 x 228 inches 243.8 x 243.8 x 579.1 cm LM12897


NARI WARD Church State, 2010 stencil ink, church pews, wheel chair wheels 46 x 63 x 31 inches 116.8 x 160 x 78.7 cm LM12927


NARI WARD Hanging Lights; Cotton Flames, 2010 stencil ink, magnetic resonance images, wooden crutch, chandelier, clothes pins, cotton 84 x 39 x 32 inches 213.4 x 99.1 x 81.3 cm LM12971


NARI WARD Ambulascope, 2010 stencil ink, walking canes and telescope 82 x 23 x 19 inches 208.3 x 58.4 x 48.3 cm LM12923


NARI WARD Riot Gate Skull side view, 2010 stencil ink, metal gates, shoe tips and laces, 3 mil vinyl with images 76 x 53 x 5 inches 193 x 134.6 x 12.7 cm LM12925


NARI WARD Star of life, 2010 stencil ink, vinyl Chase construction banner, felt weather seal, metallic fabric 68.5 x 68.5 x 2 inches 174 x 174 x 5.1 cm LM12943


NARI WARD AfroChase, 2010 stencil ink, vinyl Chase construction banner, cowrie shells, afro picks, felt weather seal 44 x 91 x 1.5 inches 111.8 x 231.1 x 3.8 cm LM12928


NARI WARD AfroChase, 2010 (detail) stencil ink, vinyl Chase construction banner, cowrie shells, afro picks, felt weather seal 44 x 91 x 1.5 inches 111.8 x 231.1 x 3.8 cm LM12928


NARI WARD CHASE Weather Map, 2010 vinyl construction banner, felt weather seal, stencil ink 44.75 x 92 x 1.5 inches 113.7 x 233.7 x 3.8 cm LM12942


NARI WARD Blue Rung, 2009 wooden ladder, metal gate, shoe tips, plastic, bug zapper, and blue pigment 78 x 21 x 38 inches 198.1 x 53.3 x 96.5 cm LM12619


NARI WARD Detecto Divine, 2009 metal skylight, mirror, scale shoe tips, talc and felt weatherproofing 57 x 39 x 39 inches 144.8 x 99.1 x 99.1 cm LM12620


NARI WARD Detecto Divine (detail), 2009 metal skylight, mirror, scale shoe tips, talc and felt weatherproofing 57 x 39 x 39 inches 144.8 x 99.1 x 99.1 cm LM12620


NARI WARD Airplane Tears, 2005 found TV backs and facial tissue dimensions variable LM12882


NARI WARD Airplane Tears, 2005 found TV backs and facial tissue dimensions variable LM12882


NARI WARD Glory, 2004 oil barrel, fluorescent & ultraviolet tubes, computer parts, dvd, parrot audio, plexiglass, fan, camera casing elements, paint cans, cement, towels and rubber roofing membrane dimensions variable LM13225 photo by Will Brown Courtesy of the Fabric Workshop and Museum


NARI WARD Glory (detail), 2004 oil barrel, fluorescent & ultraviolet tubes, computer parts, dvd, parrot audio, plexiglass, fan, camera casing elements, paint cans, cement, towels and rubber roofing membrane dimensions variable LM13225 photo by Will Brown Courtesy of the Fabric Workshop and Museum

Available Works

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NARI WARD I'll Bust You Again, 2011 krink marker, basketball trading cards and basketball mounted on aluminum 42 x 30 inches (unframed) 106.7 x 76.2 cm 44 x 32 inches (framed) 111.8 x 81.3 cm LM15613 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD I'll Bust You Again (detail), 2011 krink marker, basketball trading cards and basketball mounted on aluminum 42 x 30 inches (unframed) 106.7 x 76.2 cm 44 x 32 inches (framed) 111.8 x 81.3 cm LM15613 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Palace LiquorsouL, 2010 metal and neon sign, wood with artificial flowers, shoelaces and shoe tips 186 x 31 x 21 inches 472.4 x 78.7 x 53.3 cm LM12941 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Palace LiquorsouL (detail), 2010 metal and neon sign, wood with artificial flowers, shoelaces and shoe tips 186 x 31 x 21 inches 472.4 x 78.7 x 53.3 cm LM12941 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Knot Endings, 2010 shoe laces 126 x 78 inches 320 x 198.1 cm LM13323 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Swing, 2010 shoe tips, car tire, shoe tongues, rope 32 x 32 x 16 inches (tire) 81.3 x 81.3 x 40.6 cm rope length variable LM13968 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com


NARI WARD Third World Bank 6X6, 2010 vinyl banner, stencil ink, felt weather seal, shoe tips, shoe laces, cowrie shells, palm-fiber thatch 72 x 72 x 1.5 inches 182.9 x 182.9 x 3.8 cm LM13264 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Hanging Lights; Cotton Flames, 2010 stencil ink, magnetic resonance images, wooden crutch, chandelier, clothes pins, cotton 84 x 39 x 32 inches 213.4 x 99.1 x 81.3 cm LM12971 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Chase Weather Map (Greenwich Mean Time), 2010 vinyl construction banner, felt weather seal, stencil ink 48.5 x 96.5 x 1.25 inches 123.2 x 245.1 x 3.2 cm LM13224 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD The new boy, 2010 stencil ink and psychological study cards on paper 16 x 20 inches (paper) 40.6 x 50.8 cm 20.75 x 24.25 x 1.5 inches (framed) 52.7 x 61.6 x 3.8 cm signed and dated on the reverse LM12921 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Gimme!, 2010 stencil ink and psychological study cards on paper 20 x 16 inches (paper) 50.8 x 40.6 cm 24.25 x 20.75 x 1.5 inches (framed) 61.6 x 52.7 x 3.8 cm signed and dated on the reverse LM12982 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com


NARI WARD Riot Gate Skull side view, 2010 stencil ink, metal gates, shoe tips and laces, 3 mil vinyl with images 76 x 53 x 5 inches 193 x 134.6 x 12.7 cm LM12925 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Blue Rung, 2009 wooden ladder, metal gate, shoe tips, plastic, bug zapper, and blue pigment 78 x 21 x 38 inches 198.1 x 53.3 x 96.5 cm LM12619 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com

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NARI WARD Proximate cause Concurrent causes, 2009 stencil ink and basketball trading cards on paper 24.5 x 32 inches (paper) 62.2 x 81.3 cm 28 x 35.5 x 1.5 inches (framed) 71.1 x 90.2 x 3.8 cm LM12631 To inquire about this work please contact sales@lehmannmaupin.com