Larkin Ford: Narrative Figurative Painting and Contemporary Art

Larkin Ford is a contemporary artist specializing in narrative figurative painting, drawing, and sculpture. Originally from rural North Carolina, Ford earned his BFA from UNC Asheville and his MFA from Georgia State University. He is currently based in Atlanta, Georgia, where he also serves as a Teaching Artist at the High Museum of Art and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Emory University. Larkin Ford's artistic practice is deeply rooted in the traditions of Southern Gothic literature and the grotesque, drawing inspiration from masters like Caravaggio, Goya, and Otto Dix. His work often depicts rural Southern scenes through an absurdist lens, weaving personal experiences into enigmatic, non-linear narratives that challenge the viewer’s perception. Technical precision and dramatic lighting are hallmarks of his style, whether in large-scale oil paintings or intimate graphite drawings. Beyond the canvas, Larkin Ford is an accomplished muralist and sequential artist, having co-created comic book series and worked on significant public art projects in the Atlanta area. His work has been recognized by Oxford American as part of the New Superstars of Southern Art and has been exhibited internationally in venues across Japan, Ireland, and Belarus. Through his multifaceted approach, Larkin Ford continues to explore the intersections of memory, heritage, and the surreal within the framework of contemporary figurative art.