Muppet Gangster : Brad Ford

Super Big Fun

brad Ford’s Work:

  • Noodlefish 2021 'l

    Installations

    Noodlefish..where the art comes to play… Inside every mind is a playground that doesn’t make sense. Part art installation, part immersive environment, and part interactive exhibit.

    Go
  • Paintings

    Paintings

    I try to express 21st-century postmodernism, particularly the Kitsch Movement. A cartoon-style painting need not be an ironic take on cartoons or a critique of commercial culture; it can simply exist as is.

    Go
  • Curation

    Art shows

    This section serves as a comprehensive listing of the various Artshows that Brad has either created himself or has been accepted into over the years.

    .

    Go
  • Technology

    Technology

    Brad is passionate about electronics, which has led him to explore Video, Web, Networks, Computers, Blockchain, and AI. Here are some of his experiments and discoveries in Art and Technology.

    Go

Digital work

Colorful graffiti-style illustration featuring a grumpy blue skull with a pink nose holding a cigar, with dice, a banana, a cupcake, star, moon, and arrow around it on a yellow background.
'
A graffiti-style illustration of a robot with a cat's face, raven wings, a yellow crown, and a pink flaming heart on its chest, set against a gray, patterned background.
A watercolor-style sketch of a candle melting in a holder with a flame, set on a surface in a corner.
A cartoon-style illustration of a humanoid figure with a large green eye on a spherical head, wearing a yellow crown with jewels and a white suit with a black tie, holding a pair of headphones against a pink background.
A colorful artistic illustration of a bunny with large green eyes, wearing a crown decorated with jewels, and standing next to a tall, pink rabbit ear. The background features abstract purple and white shapes.
A cartoon illustration of an open mouth with sharp teeth, with a purple tongue sticking out, dripping saliva, and emerging from a wooden box against a blue background.
A cartoon-style drawing of a cat with tiger stripes, with a cloud, star, and rain in the background, wearing a crown, sitting in water with splashes around.
A stylized drawing of a taco with lettuce and other fillings, with a DNA double helix integrated into the taco, and the artist's signature 'BAFE 23' at the bottom right.
Colorful illustration of a menorah within a stylized hand outline, with an eye at the top, clouds, stars, and Hebrew text below.
A cartoon-style illustration of a white hand giving a thumbs-up gesture, with a blue snake curled around the wrist, set against an orange background with black crosses.
Blind Mice
Colorful illustration of a rocket with a built-in watch on its front, launching into space with stars and planets in the background.
Illustration of a creepy doll with a stitched mouth and hollow eyes. It has tentacle-like appendages on its head, a pin in its heart, and appears distressed with a pink background and abstract lines.
A whimsical drawing of a foot in a purple shoe with wings, ascending from an icy base, with a pacifier and a baby bib nearby. The background is decorated with gold and pink geometric lines.
An artistic illustration featuring a robot woman with a lightbulb head, surrounded by butterflies, doodles, and vibrant colors.
A stylized illustration of a vintage alarm clock with a telephone cord as its winding stem, surrounded by clouds and sun rays, in a watercolor and ink drawing style.
A cartoon-style illustration of a black and white dog with a red cross on its nose, held by a large wrench, with tears and sweat and a thought bubble with a flower and coins in it. A yellow, angry-looking character with an exclamation mark above its
Colorful abstract illustration of a lit cigarette with smoke swirling around.
Colorful cartoon-style illustration featuring a blue dinosaur with a purple tongue, surrounded by items like scissors, a skull, a green voodoo doll, and scattered blocks, with a dotted background.
Cartoon illustration of a dog with a blue nose, glasses, and spiky hair, reaching out to a pink flower, with clouds and raindrops, a mushroom, fiery flames, and dice in the background, against a purple textured background.
A colorful, abstract drawing featuring a cartoonish blue dog, a red apple with a green worm, a pink gasoline can with smoke, a purple plus sign, a yellow crescent moon, a orange number five, a Gilligan's Island style traffic light with red and green
A cartoon robot with a square head and a fiery emblem on its chest, waving with one hand and smiling despite showing sharp teeth. The robot has glowing eyes, antennas, and flexible arms with gloves, set against a blue background.
Illustration of a vintage style alarm clock with a brown key, a white plug, and a black cord, set against a blue textured background.
A cartoon-style illustration of a pink eyeball with a blue iris and veins, placed on top of a pink, melting, dripping structure. A green tentacle with suction cups wraps around the structure's base. The background is gray with white abstract lines.
A cartoon-style illustration of a messy burger with spilled pink and blue sauces, involving multiple layers including lettuce, pickles, cheese, and a beef patty, with a splattered gray background.
Colorful graffiti-style illustration of an open trash can with purple and pink objects inside on a city rooftop, with various abstract shapes, stars, a planet, and futuristic elements emanating from the trash can against a dark, starry background.
A drawing of Mickey Mouse's head with large black ears, eye, and nose, in a vintage cartoon style, with a beige textured background.
A stylized, graffiti-inspired illustration of Mickey Mouse with a keyhole in his eye and an open mouth, set against a colorful, abstract background.
Illustration of a cartoon mouse wearing an orange bandana over its eyes, with a green background.
A pop art style drawing of Mickey Mouse with a sly expression, surrounded by abstract scribbles and lines, with bold colors and sketchy details.
A cartoon-style drawing of a revolver with three bullets, each labeled with social issues: 'LGBT Rights,' 'Reproductive Rights,' and 'Racial Equality.' The bullets have cross symbols on them and human-like legs, suggesting they are alive. The drawing
A cartoonish, monster-like figure with a round head and tentacle-like hair, decorated with vibrant colors and patterns. It has large, sad eyes with X's, red stitched mouth, and patches of different textures. The figure is wearing a brown hoodie with
Cartoon drawing of fluffy clouds with swirls on a blue sky background.
A robot with angel wings, a yellow crown, a pink flaming heart on its chest, and a dark shadow behind it with red and orange flames.

Meet Brad Ford

Brad Ford, a resident of Erie, Pennsylvania, presents a multifaceted artistic and professional profile, demonstrating proficiency in both traditional and digital media. With over three decades of experience, his contributions to the cultural landscape of the region are marked by a synthesis of visual arts, digital design, and community engagement.

Ford's artistic trajectory commenced with formal training at Edinboro University, culminating in a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Animation, which provided a foundational understanding of visual narrative and sequential art. This was subsequently augmented by a Master of Business Administration from Western Governors University, reflecting a commitment to strategic thinking and organizational leadership, effectively bridging the realms of artistic practice and administrative acumen.

Brad Ford’s career is a study in "Phy-digital" evolution, bridging the gap between hardware hacker and high-concept curator. His curatorial roots were established at the Erie Art Gallery, where he focused on activating downtown spaces and bringing "high art" into the community's daily view. This experience laid the groundwork for his current role as Gallerist at FEED Media Art Center, where his mission has sharpened into a specific focus: curating artists who utilize DATA not just as information, but as a pliable artistic medium.

This new direction—exemplified by initiatives like "The Data Tide"—champions works where environmental data, AI algorithms, and blockchain verification (NFTs) manifest as physical, immersive experiences. By treating VR, AI, and video as the raw materials of the 21st century, Ford fosters a "Digital Dada" aesthetic that questions the stability of our technological reality while archiving it for the future in FEED’s specialized data center. His own artistic practice mirrors this curatorial vision; his "Broken Sculpture" series physically manipulates flat-screen TVs to create "bas-relief digital paintings," proving that even the hardware of the digital age is subject to the chaotic, tactile interventions of the artist's hand.

Key Curatorial & Technical Milestones:

  • Erie Art Gallery (Past) Focused on community activation and "pop-up" gallery spaces to democratize access to contemporary art.

  • FEED Media Art Center (Current) Leading the "Data as Art" mission, Ford is collaborating with FEED founder Benton Bainbridge to develop a 9-petabyte data center dedicated to archiving media art. In addition to launching Global Virtual Residencies, he pioneered the "Gallery 13" pop-up series to activate downtown spaces. Most recently, he launched a 100-foot outdoor video façade project—partially funded by an ECGRA Anchor Building Grant—transforming the FEED building itself into a public digital canvas.

  • "Data as Art" Mission Ford curated the "2025 OPENFEED Art Residencies," which featured a landmark environmental data installation. He also spearheaded the "Phy-digital" Virtual Residency, creating a proof-of-concept that remote collaboration can be authenticated and immortalized through NFTs and blockchain technology.

  • Tech Stack Brad Ford’s approach to media art distinguishes itself by applying enterprise-grade rigor to creative expression. While many galleries treat digital art files as simple storage issues, Ford leverages his background in IT Compliance, Risk Management, and Network Systems to treat the FEED Media Art Center as a mission-critical data environment. His expertise allows him to bridge the gap between the chaotic nature of experimental art and the stability required for institutional preservation.

A man with a beard and shaved head taking a selfie. He appears to be indoors with a dark background, wearing a black t-shirt with a white graphic design.