Henry Ward - February 2026
Henry Ward is a London-based painter whose work explores abstraction through colour, form, and surface. Working across canvas, paper, and wood, his practice often evolves through repetition and variation, allowing compositions to shift gradually over time. He stayed at House of Hulda in February 2026 as part of a collaboration with Rise Art.
Ward’s paintings are process-led, often developing in series where small changes in palette and structure accumulate into new directions. His work balances control with openness, allowing external conditions to subtly influence the outcome.
During his residency, he worked across drawing, writing, and painting, producing a series of small-scale works on paper and wood. “I made a series of small paintings… and drew and wrote.” Without a fixed agenda, the residency became a space to continue working while observing how the environment might affect his process.
Spending time alone played a central role in that shift. “The residency… was an incredible, almost other worldly experience. Spending time alone in such a beautiful wilderness was amazing.” While he hadn’t set out to respond directly to the landscape, its presence began to register in the work.
That influence became clearer after returning to his studio in London. “I can see a shift in the palette, and an evolution of form, with horizons creeping in.” Rather than producing a resolved body of work on-site, the residency introduced subtle changes that continued to unfold afterwards.
The experience also marked the beginning of House of Hulda’s collaboration with Rise Art, with Ward’s stay forming part of the groundwork for future residencies and the upcoming open call in May 2026.
Since his time on Andøya, Ward continues to develop his painting practice, with the works and shifts initiated during the residency feeding into his ongoing series.
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