Antwon Ford
Antwon Ford, born on May 13, 1985, is from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina. He began learning how to make sweetgrass baskets at the age of four by watching his grandmother make them in her kitchen. It wasn't until 1992, with a lot of hard work and persistence, he created a two piece top basket, called a jewelry box. This very first basket of his was sold to a family member for $5.
With the sand beneath his feet, Antwon, along side his grandmother, created and sold many baskets at their family basket stand. His grandmother, Albertha Ford, creator of the "Twist handle" and "Elephant Ear" baskets taught Antwon, how to make these styles and other modern designs that were being made in the 1990's. He continued making many of these modern styles, while adding contemporary spins to many of his pieces.
While testing the complexities of Sweetgrass, Antwon began using mathematics and science in his work to create sculptures from the grass. In 2009, Antwon began his "GrassinMotion" experiment/series which involved his quest to produce sweetgrass baskets and sculptures that exemplified the illusion of having a 4th dimension. "PHASE 1” of this series was unveiled in 2011. The following year "PHASE 2" was released. Overall, through the experiment of Grassinmotion, Antwon seeks is to produce 4th dimensional art by blending the mathematical and scientific concepts of dimension into one.
In 2012, he introduced his artist theory to The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, gaining him reputation as a master craftsman.
In 2016, he released his, “Back to Shapes 2017” series, an extension of "Grassinmotion." "Back to Shapes 2018," was released the following year along with video photography, highlighting the many different angles and shapes one basket can make upon rotation. This extension of his work focuses more on sharp angles, as opposed to the curls and swirls from his earlier works of the early 2010's. Antwon, is currently working on a sculptural collection called, "Geechee Life." This collection is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2019.
The works of Antwon Ford are greatly influenced by Gestalt Psycology, spatial dimensions, and shadow produced from direct light. He hopes to inspire a generation of artists to use science while creating art.
With the sand beneath his feet, Antwon, along side his grandmother, created and sold many baskets at their family basket stand. His grandmother, Albertha Ford, creator of the "Twist handle" and "Elephant Ear" baskets taught Antwon, how to make these styles and other modern designs that were being made in the 1990's. He continued making many of these modern styles, while adding contemporary spins to many of his pieces.
While testing the complexities of Sweetgrass, Antwon began using mathematics and science in his work to create sculptures from the grass. In 2009, Antwon began his "GrassinMotion" experiment/series which involved his quest to produce sweetgrass baskets and sculptures that exemplified the illusion of having a 4th dimension. "PHASE 1” of this series was unveiled in 2011. The following year "PHASE 2" was released. Overall, through the experiment of Grassinmotion, Antwon seeks is to produce 4th dimensional art by blending the mathematical and scientific concepts of dimension into one.
In 2012, he introduced his artist theory to The Association of Bone and Joint Surgeons, gaining him reputation as a master craftsman.
In 2016, he released his, “Back to Shapes 2017” series, an extension of "Grassinmotion." "Back to Shapes 2018," was released the following year along with video photography, highlighting the many different angles and shapes one basket can make upon rotation. This extension of his work focuses more on sharp angles, as opposed to the curls and swirls from his earlier works of the early 2010's. Antwon, is currently working on a sculptural collection called, "Geechee Life." This collection is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2019.
The works of Antwon Ford are greatly influenced by Gestalt Psycology, spatial dimensions, and shadow produced from direct light. He hopes to inspire a generation of artists to use science while creating art.