Meet the Artist: The Ladd Brothers

Steven and William Ladd are brothers who have been making art together for over two decades. They began their artistic careers as accessory designers. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, the brothers have developed an expanded practice consisting of text, drawing, sculpture, installation, performance and design. They transform beads, textiles, and trinkets through cutting, weaving, sewing, and scrolling into highly ornamented, detailed sculptures.

While their practice has evolved, Steven and William Ladd remain true to their core values:

Spend your life doing what you love.

Be focused and disciplined.

Collaborate.

The brothers explore core values through critical community partnerships. Beginning in 2006, they began to integrate fine and conceptual art, design, and craft with their passion to engage with people through hands-on educational collaboration – a program called Scrollathon. During Scrollathon, participants make artwork inspired by a personal story while sharing that story with the group, demonstrating how contemporary art can become a lens for personal storytelling.Participants then make components for a collaborative artwork and are photographed for a permanent record.

Since its founding in 2006, Scrollathon has served more than 10,000 people from diverse ages, backgrounds, and abilities, inviting participants to think about what they value in life while creating museum-quality art. Steven and William Ladd are bringing Scrollathon to Sarasota and will engage with 500 local participants from across the region.

Their upcoming exhibition at Sarasota Art Museum, Steven and William Ladd: Lead With a Laugh will be presented in two parts. Opening on September 4, visitors will experience a survey of Steven and William Ladd’s career to date and view new works. A second part of the exhibition will open October 16, detailing the history and evolution of the Scrollathon and unveiling the just-completed Sarasota Scrollathon project made with regional community partners.