About the Artist

For Todd Bond, art is a sensory experience defined by the feel of his paintbrush stroking the canvas, the dual senseof calmness and exhilaration felt when translating a mere concept into a work of art, and the thoughtful expression in the eyes of those viewing Todd’s extraordinary work for the very first time.

Todd’s process of creating art is more than simply replicating an image to paper or canvas, it is a progression of developing and researching ideas and themes, striving to fully comprehend a subject in order to establish a connection that he can translate using different methods and mediums.  Visualizing the outcome of the work helps him to match the final look and emotion of the piece to the medium he will use.  Though the result often differs from the initial planning, the growth from his mental blueprint to the final piece is a welcomed and challenging experience.  Art is Todd’s contribution to society and through oil and pastel paintings, he celebrates life as he sees and understands it.  While Todd brings to his audience the people, places and things that define life’s joys and sorrows, his true passion lies in creating scenes and images that relate to music and African-American culture.

Born in Chicago and raised in Oak Park, Michigan, Todd began drawing popular characters and comic book heroes that fascinated him as a young boy.  Amazed by the sense of realism an 8-year-old boy could create on an art pad, Todd’s family recognized his gift and encouraged him to draw and paint as often as he could. Preferring oil on canvas, Todd painted during much of his spare time, stretching himself as a young artist in ways he never thought possible.  In the mid 1980’s during the burgeoning days of hip-hop, Todd continued to perfect his craft painting images that captured the spirit and energy of the hip-hop genre. 

Comparing his early work to present day paintings and drawings, one can follow Todd’s maturation both personally and artistically.  Themes created during his teens and early twenties are courageous and sometimes filled with the frustration felt by many young people struggling to define their place in the world. Now in his late thirties, his work is profound and quite simply, awe-inspiring.  One of his earlier pieces of work entitled Colors of Music (2002) depicts only the outlines of musicians performing amid various colors. This visceral painting, filled with bold hues and vibrant tones, allows Todd’s fans to almost hear the strum of the bass strings and the strike of the piano keys. In a word, brilliant.

Todd is an artist

and savvy businessman whose time has come.  He is actively involved in two business ventures relating to the arts: THBart (www.toddbond.com), which is the vehicle used to bring his artwork to the public and FastFrame of Durham (www.fastframe.com/durham) which is a custom picture framing franchise where Todd uses his framing expertise to turn pictures, mirrors, quilts, memorabilia, articles, etc. into pieces of artwork.   Todd resides in North Durham with his wife and two children.  In his spare time he enjoys golfing, reading and participating in family activities.