Josh
Smith
Josh Smith's prolific output and innovative techniques have established him as a significant figure in abstract Contemporary Art. Smith's work engages in a celebratory project of experimentation and refinement. If you're looking for Josh Smith original prints and editions for sale or would like to sell, request a complimentary valuation and browse our network's most in-demand works.
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Biography
Born in Okinawa but raised in East Tennessee, Smith's artistic journey began with formal training in printmaking. He studied at Miami University from 1994 to 1996 before earning his BFA from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, in 1998. This background in printmaking would later inform his approach to painting, influencing his use of repetition and reproduction techniques.
Smith's artistic practice is characterised by its diversity. While primarily known for his abstract and semi-abstract paintings, he works across a variety of mediums and styles. This multifaceted approach allows him to reflect on and counter cultural norms and Contemporary Art practices, positioning him as a versatile and innovative artist.
Early in his career, Smith gained attention for his paintings featuring his own name. These works, with their bold vibrancy, became a signature element of his oeuvre, prompting questions about the role of the artist as both creator and subject. By depicting his own name, the artist challenges the viewer to reconsider the significance and identity of the artist, as well as the broader questions of authorship and originality in art.
Smith's work is a celebration of the act of creation itself. His paintings feature broad, gestural brushstrokes and a vibrant colour palette, creating works that are at once energetic and contemplative. He frequently employs pictograph-like symbols and watery brushstrokes, resulting in compositions that border abstraction and representation.
Throughout his career, Smith has exhibited extensively in prestigious galleries and institutions worldwide. His work has been featured in solo exhibitions at notable venues such as the New Museum in New York, MUMOK in Vienna, and the Bonner Kunstverein in Bonn. These exhibitions have solidified his reputation as an important figure in Contemporary Art.
In addition to his paintings, Smith is also a ceramicist and created artist's books. Often produced in limited editions, his books showcase his interest in reproduction and dissemination of images. His ceramic works demonstrate his ability to translate his artistic vision across different mediums.
Blending spontaneity with methodical execution, Smith's printmaking reflects his wider artistic practice. His 2013 intaglio print Other Guy exemplifies his signature approach of depicting his own name as a central motif. Bold and gestural, the thick, black letters seem to float against a scrawled, chaotic background. The raw, unrefined lines challenge conventional notions of authorship, making the depiction of his own name both a subject and an interrogation of identity. This aligns with Smith's broader body of work, where repetition and abstraction drive the exploration of self and art-making.
Known for his subjective and counter-cultural approach, Smith challenges conventions of Contemporary Art by borrowing from Modern painting’s vocabulary, particularly Expressionism and gestural abstraction. His work is prolific yet methodical, often produced in series, with each piece representing an intense psychological process. Smith’s artworks, though seemingly spontaneous, reflect years of thought and exploration. His art serves as a form of interrogation—testing ideas about the creative process, the role of the artist, and the complexities of everyday life.