Pioneer of Possibility, 2023

Oil on canvas

72 x 58 in (182.9 x 147.3 cm)

Imaginal Practice for New Horizons workin on the share system, 2024

Oil and charcoal on linen

72 x 54 in (182.9 x 137.2 cm)

New Era (vigna unguiculata), 2024

Glazed stoneware and lamp hardware

21.75 x 15.25 x 15.25 in (55.2 x 38.7 x 38.7 cm)

As natural as Natchez, 2024

Oil on linen

36 x 54 in (91.4 x 137.2 cm)

Seeing green (not money, but a new beginning), 2024

Oil and charcoal on linen

54 x 44 in (137.2 x 111.8 cm)

The Mortgage Lifter (a different furnishing), 2024

Oil and charcoal on linen

72 x 54 in (182.9 x 137.2 cm)

We’ll need ceremony for the flowers, 2022

Oil on canvas

60 x 48 in (152.4 x 121.9 cm)

Old Timer (vigna unguiculata), 2024

Glazed stoneware and lamp hardware

24 x 15.25 x 15.25 in (61 x 38.7 x 38.7 cm)

Provision Gardens, 2024

Oil and charcoal on linen

72 x 54 in (182.9 x 137.2 cm)

The Deed, 2023

Oil on canvas

48 x 36 in (121.9 x 91.4 cm)

The field and the knower of the field, 2023

Oil and image transfer on linen

60 x 54 in (152.4 x 137.2 cm)

daydreams and dialogue with the daisy, 2023

Oil on canvas

48 x 44 in (121.9 x 111.8 cm)

With one hoe and a blind mule (find your spirit), 2023

Oil on linen

60 x 54 in (152.4 x 137.2 cm)

Boll Weevil Bewitchings (harbinger of balance), 2024

Oil on linen

36 x 54 in (91.4 x 137.2 cm)

Hana Ward makes paintings and ceramic works that explore themes of identity, introspection, and transformation. Appearing both ethereal and visceral, Ward weaves together moods, motives, and narratives to depict Black and Brown feminine figures who reflect and dream, creating their sovereign worlds from the inside out. These multitudinous visions of unfolding self-actualizations are sometimes sheltered in the solitude of domestic space and other times liberated into landscapes. Influenced by anticolonial histories, spiritual texts, and cycles of the natural world, as well as the canon of art history, Ward’s work excavates inner dimensions to discover a world where one’s sovereignty is in the here and now.

Hana Ward (b. 1989, Los Angeles, CA) received a BA from Brown University in 2011. Ward’s 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, Ward attended the Hayama Residency in Japan and in 2017 she received a Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs Artist-in-Residence Grant. Ward’s work has been featured in numerous publications including Artforum, Frieze, The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, Amadeus, Artillery Magazine, and AUTRE. Ward currently lives and works in Los Angeles, CA and is represented by OCHI.

EDUCATION

2011

Bachelor of Arts, Education, Brown University

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2025

Special Project, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, MD (forthcoming)

2024

Cowpea Consciousness, Atlanta Art Week, presented by OCHI, Atlanta, GA

2023

When the Moon Stopped Keeping Time, Roche Projects, Kyoto, Japan
How To Build Up Worn Out Soils, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA
While We Wait, The Breeder, Athens, Greece
Solo Show, Frieze Los Angeles, presented by OCHI, Los Angeles, CA

2021

a night between two days, Mrs., Maspeth, Queens
Solo Show, Independent Art Fair, presented by Mrs., New York, NY
an exit from this room and others like it, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA

2020

what was there all along, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA

2019

sing about me, Harun Gallery, Leimert Park, CA

2018

Exhibition 1: Hana Ward, Harun Gallery, Leimert Park, CA

2016

born in de winter, Mike Kelley Gallery, Beyond Baroque, Venice, CA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2025

Line, Smudge, Shade: Contemporary Drawing in Our Los Angeles, Benton Museum of Art, Pomona College, Claremont, CA
Summer Solstice, Clubhouse, Wellington, FL
Even in Arcadia, There I Am, curated by Andrew Gardner, Hesse Flatow, New York, NY

2024

World Without End: The George Washington Carver Project, Getty PST Art + Science 2024, California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA
Body of Work, Mrs. Maspeth, NY
Against Monoculture, Carolyn Campagna Kleefeld Contemporary Art Museum, California State University Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Spring Flowers, OCHI, Sun Valley, ID

2023

In New York, Thinking of You Part II, The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
Group Exhibition, Pt. 2 Gallery, Oakland, CA

2022

Wish You Were Here, OCHI, Sun Valley, ID
, The Armory Show, presented by The Breeder, New York, NY

2021

Expanded Field, OCHI Aux, Los Angeles, CA
PARABLE 003, curated by Alex Jones + Kevin Bernard Moultrie Daye, Los Angeles
Group Show, Contemporary Exhibitions, Los Angeles, CA
For the Love of LA, urated by Eva Recinos, The Music Center, Los Angeles, CA (online)

2020

Heads or Tails, OCHI, Los Angeles, CA (online)
Mutual Friends, Classic Cars West, Oakland, CA

2019

Post-it Show, Giant Robot, Los Angeles, CA

2018

Post-it Show, Giant Robot, Los Angeles, CA

2017

Animating the Archives: The Woman’s Building, Avenue 50 Studio, Los Angeles, CA

2011

Art of the Book, John Hay Library, Providence, RI

2010

B.O.M.B.S. Group show, Faunce House, Providence, RI

AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

2024

Artist in Residence, University of Maryland Art Gallery, College Park, MD (forthcoming)

Finalist, Hopper Prize, New York, NY

2023

Artist in Residence, Hayama Artist Residency, Hayama, Japan

2017

Artist-in-Residence Grant, Department of Cultural Affairs, Los Angeles, CA

Fellowship, Special Project in Archiving, Animating the Archives: The Woman’s Building, Metabolic Studio, Los Angeles, CA

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2024

Cooper, Ashton. “Selections", Foundwork, Mar.

2023

Farley, Michael Anthony. “The Miami Report: Highlights from Basel and Beyond," Bmore Art, Dec. 8
Moges, Bethel S. “Hana Ward’s ‘How To Build Up Worn Out Soils’ @ OCHI," AUTRE, May 23
Khemsurov, Monica. “All the Best Art – and Design – We Saw at the 2023 Frieze Week in Los Angeles," Sight Unseen, Feb. 22
Wolfson, Julie. “Frieze LA: Depictions of Women by Women Artists," Cool Hunting, Feb. 21
Vankin, Deborah. “The Take: The faces of Frieze Los Angeles’ buzzy 2023 opening," Los Angeles Times, Feb. 17
Chikhoune, Ryma. “Frieze Returns to Los Angeles," Women’s Wear Daily, Feb. 16
“Lauren Haynes’s Top 5 Works on Frieze Viewing Room," Frieze, Feb. 15
Motta, Lucrezia. “The CF Guide To Frieze Los Angeles 2023," Citizen Femme, Feb. 15
Riefe, Jordan. “Say Frieze! Art Fair Lands at Santa Monica Airport," Los Angeles Magazine, Feb. 14
“A Ceramic Renaissance: Clay and Sculptural Works at Frieze Los Angeles," Frieze, Feb. 2
“History, Land and Identity | Highlights at Frieze Los Angeles 2023," Frieze, Jan. 13

2022

“10 Emerging Artists to Watch at Frieze Los Angeles 2023," Frieze, Dec. 15
Recinos, Eva. “On finding balance in your creative practice," The Creative Independent, Apr. 21
Spann, Vaughn & Allyssia Alleyne. “Vaughn Spann on 9 Black Artists He’s Excited About Now," Artsy, Jan. 31

2021

Steer, Emily. “Elephant’s Pick of November’s Essential Artists," Elephant, Nov. 15
Brosnihan, Anna. “Hear Her Here – Celebrating Black Femme Voices," FLAUNT, Nov. 3
Lee, Shannon. “5 Artists on our Radar in November 2021," Artsy, Nov. 1
Ghassemitari, Shawn. “Hana Ward’s Art Cultivates Exploration Into the Soil of the Mind," Amadeus Magazine, Oct. 12
“Looking for the best things to do in L.A.? Try these 12 pop-ups, merch drops, events: Parable 003," Los Angeles Times, Oct. 13
Gerlis, Melanie. “Exhibitors welcome return of fairs," Financial Times, Sep. 15
Sutton, Benjamin. “What Sold During Armory Week 2021," Artsy, Sep. 13
Kazakina, Katya. “The Demand Is Off the Charts: At the Independent Fair, Young Figurative Painters Steal the Show (and Draw Mile-Long Wait Lists)," artnet news, Sep. 10
Schwendener, Martha. “Still Independent and Still Exceptional," The New York Times, Sep. 9
Steinfeld, Daniela. “#38 Hunting the unknown: Hana Ward, artist," Voices on Art – The VAN HORN Gallery Podcast Independent Special, Jul. 20
Bowie, Summer. “An exit from this room and others like it: New Paintings & Ceramics by Hana Ward @ OCHI in Los Angeles," AUTRE, Apr. 13
“Must See Exhibition: an exit from this room and others like it," Artforum, Apr. 1
Wheless, Avery. “Gallery Rounds: Hana Ward at Ochi Projects," Artillery Magazine, Apr. 20

2019

“One on One with Hana Ward," Call + Response Journal, Vol. 1, No. 1., p53 (cover)

2018

Recinos, Eva. “In a West Adams Backyard, the Duo Uno+Ichi Is Creating L.A.’s Cutest Ceramic," Los Angeles Magazine, Jan. 31
GRLSQUASH, Iss. 2: SELF, Winter, p104

2017

Muchnic, Suzanne. “Wondering Woman: ‘Animating the Archives’ Channeled the Energy of Feminist Activity in L.A. from 1975 to 1991," Art News, Jun. 27

SELECTED COLLECTIONS

California African American Museum, Los Angeles, CA

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

  • Hana Ward
    Drawing Los Angeles: The Benton Museum Explores The Art of the Line
    The Pasadena Now Weekendr
    September 23, 2025
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    The Benton Museum of Art celebrates drawings this fall
    Art Daily
    August 21, 2025
    LINK

  • Hana Ward

    Eight PST Art shows, in and around Los Angeles, to see before they close

    The Art Newspaper

    February 20, 2025

    LINK

  • Sam Shoemaker & Hana Ward
    Feel festive with December’s finest drops, exhibitions and events
    Los Angeles Times
    December 3, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward

    Artist Talk: Back to the Land: Artists Visualizing Black Farming

    California African American Museum

    November 14, 2024

    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Can’t-Miss Events During Atlanta Art Week
    Hyperallergic
    October 2, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    "Cowpea Consciousness" with OCHI Highlights Atlanta Art Week
    Juxtapoz
    September 30, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward

    Atlanta steps into the art market spotlight

    The Art Newspaper

    September 30th, 2024

    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    The ultimate guide to Atlanta Art Week
    ArtsATL
    September 30, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Third annual Atlanta Art Week takes over the city
    WABE Atlanta
    September 25, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    National Spotlight on Atlanta Arts Scene
    The Atlanta Journal Constitution
    September 24, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Talking Atlanta Art Week
    ArtReview
    September 18, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Art Talk: The California African American Museum presents “World Without End: The George Washington Carver Project”
    The Wrap
    September 16, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Art and Science Intermix in Dozens of Exhibitions Across LA This Fall
    Hyperallergic
    September 10, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Handpicked Highlights From Curators
    Maryland Today
    September 3, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    PST ART Is Celebrating the Ties That Bind Art and Science. Here Are 10 Must-See Shows
    Artnet
    August 29, 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Ashton Cooper: Selections
    Foundwork
    March 2024
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Hana Ward Named Hopper Prize Finalist
    The Hopper Prize
    February 6, 2024
    LINK

  • NADA Miami
    The Miami Report: Highlights from Basel and Beyond
    BMoreArt
    December 8, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    HOW TO BUILD UP WORN OUT SOILS
    Autre
    May 23, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    How To Build Up Worn Out Soils
    ArtForum Editor's Must See
    May 6, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    In New York, Thinking of You
    The FLAG Art Foundation, New York, NY
    MAY 6-JUNE 3, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    The CF Guide To Frieze Los Angeles 2023
    Citizen Femme
    February 15, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Frieze Returns to Los Angeles
    Womens Wear Daily
    February 16, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    All the Best Art — and Design — We Saw at the 2023 Frieze Week in Los Angeles
    Sight Unseen
    February 22, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Frieze LA 2023: Depictions of Women by Women Artists
    Cool Hunting
    February 21, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    The Take: The faces of Frieze Los Angeles’ buzzy 2023 opening
    Los Angeles Times
    February 17, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Say Frieze! Art Fair Lands at Santa Monica Airport
    Los Angeles Magazine
    February 14, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    A Ceramic Renaissance: Clay and Sculptural Works at Frieze Los Angeles 2023
    Frieze
    February 2, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Lauren Haynes's Top 5 Works on Frieze Viewing Room
    Frieze
    February 15, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    History, Land and Identity | Highlights at Frieze Los Angeles 2023
    Frieze
    January 13, 2023
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    10 Emerging Artists to Watch at Frieze Los Angeles 2023
    Frieze
    December 15, 2022
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    The Creative Independent:
    On finding balance in your creative practice
    4/21/22
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    ARTSY:
    Vaughn Spann on 9 Black Artists
    He’s Excited about Now
    1/31/22
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    ARTFORUM: "Must See"
    A Night Between Two Days
    at Mrs. Gallery
    11/6/21 - 1/8/22
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Elephant Magazine
    Artists to Watch: Elephant’s Pick of
    November’s Essential Artists
    11/15/21
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    "Hear Her Here"
    Virtual Community Conversation Series
    Join an online talk about Hana's work
    and how it ties to the theme of Legacy.
    Thu, Dec 2, 2021 at 4pm PT
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Los Angeles Times
    Looking for the best things to do in LA?
    Try these 12 pop-ups, merch drops, events
    10/13/2021
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    The New York Times
    Still Independent, and Still Exceptional
    09/09/2021
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    PARABLE 003
    LACE
    09/08/2021 - 11/07/2021
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Artillery
    GALLERY ROUNDS: Hana Ward
    Ochi Projects
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    Autre
    AN EXIT FROM THIS ROOM AND OTHERS LIKE IT: NEW PAINTINGS & CERAMICS BY HANA WARD @ OCHI PROJECTS IN LOS ANGELES
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    For the Love of LA
    curated by Eva Recinos
    FOR THE LOVE OF L.A.
    For the Love of L.A. highlights the broad and expansive array of Angeleno creativity across diverse disciplines and geographies. New artists and works of art will be posted every Tuesday for a 13-week period. More than 35 artists in total will be featured with a platform to express their views of Los Angeles that are relevant and reflective of the current time through music, dance and visual culture.
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    LACE
    PRESS RELEASE: LACE 2021 Emerging Curators Selected
    LINK

  • Hana Ward
    ARTFORUM
    an exit from this room and others like it
    at Ochi Projects
    March 27 - May 8, 2021
    LINK

  • We are pleased to present Rakeem Cunningham, Hana Ward and Devin Farrand at UNTITLED, ART, Online,
    July 31 - August 9.
    LINK

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