Hana Ward is a contemporary artist based in Los Angeles whose work explores themes of Black identity, spirituality, and ancestral knowledge through a deeply personal lens. Drawing on her background as both an educator and ceramicist, Ward blends figurative painting with narrative symbolism, often incorporating text, flora, and celestial motifs to evoke histories both lived and imagined. Her practice is rooted in care, healing, and cultural memory, offering meditative reflections on Black womanhood and the sacred. Through vibrant palettes and layered compositions, Ward invites viewers into a richly textured world that bridges the spiritual and the everyday.
I would describe my practice like a scavenger hunt. When I begin creating a body of work, I enter a certain mode and I don’t know exactly what I’ll make as a result; but I’ll know it when I find it.
Hana Ward, Mrs. Gallery
Hana Ward b. 1989
Hana Ward is a painter and ceramicist whose work explores themes of identity, introspection, and transformation. Drawing inspiration from anticolonial histories, spiritual texts, natural cycles, and art history, Ward creates ethereal yet visceral pieces that delve into inner dimensions and personal sovereignty. Her artwork often features Black and Brown feminine figures in contemplative settings, ranging from domestic interiors to expansive landscapes, reflecting on self-actualization and liberation.
Ward earned her BA from Brown University in 2011. Her work has been exhibited internationally at venues including the Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Museum in Long Beach, CA; the California African American Museum; Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions; Harun Gallery; Beyond Baroque; and OCHI in Los Angeles, CA; The FLAG Art Foundation in New York, NY; Mrs. in Queens, NY; Roche Projects in Kyoto, Japan; and The Breeder in Athens, Greece. In 2023, she attended the Hayama Residency in Japan. Ward's work has been featured in publications such as Artforum, Frieze, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, Amadeus, Artillery Magazine, and AUTRE. She currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
Auction Results Hana Ward
