Florida native John Hosford used to take his home state for granted. But after spending more than two decades away, he has returned with a newfound appreciation for its unique charms. Equal parts badass and nice guy, Hosford is an artist to his marrow whose driving force has been a lifelong need to process and interpret the world through some form of creativity. A man of many incarnations, he is alternately known as Johnny Ford, musician and tattoo artist, and John Living, whose lean, rugged looks have landed him in villainous roles in an assortment of terrible films that you will likely never see or hear of. But visual art has been the lodestone of Hosford’s creative life, from his earliest crayon drawings of neon-pink clouds to the reflective, slightly-surreal landscapes of today.

As a young man, Hosford pursued a career in rock ‘n roll, (and its decadent lifestyle). After small successes in the music world, and greater downfalls and struggles from said lifestyle, the erstwhile rock star eventually enrolled in the Fine Arts program at the Ringling School of Art and Design, studying under the late, great painter Leslie Lerner. After graduation, Hosford moved to New York City where he would make his way using every form of visual art for the next 24 years.

Hosford has created decorative paintings for major New York City venues including Sony Hall, and the New York Historical Society's exhibit on tattooing. He has also painted photographic backdrops for projects featuring comedian Denis Leary, soccer legend Pelé, super model Kim Williams and numerous musical acts. His artwork can be found in the private collections of famed baseball pitcher Dwight Gooden and super model Guinevere van Seenus, among others. Freshly back in his home state, Hosford has re-dedicated his life to painting and seeks to invoke the fantastical natural beauty of his surroundings.

Hosford’s dreamlike, large-scale landscapes, often with no land actually in them, juxtapose seemingly disparate images that convey feelings of youth, loss and hope.