Key Takeaways
- Josh Smith is a renowned contemporary artist known for his mixed media work in painting, collage, sculpture, and printmaking.
- His art practice merges handmade and found materials to explore concepts of originality and authenticity.
- Smith's work is characterized by its immediacy and emotional resonance, attracting attention from prestigious museums and galleries.
- The artist has had numerous solo exhibitions internationally, with his work featured in major public collections.
- Smith's artistic journey has led him from his Tennessee roots to the vibrant art scene of New York City.
Josh Smith, born in 1976, is a Brooklyn-based artist known for his innovative work in painting and various mediums. He gained early recognition with canvases featuring his name, exploring abstraction and creativity.
Redefining Artistic Boundaries
Josh Smith, born in Okinawa, Japan, and raised in Tennessee, is a versatile contemporary artist celebrated for his experimental approach across multiple mediums. Initially trained as a printmaker, Smith's artistic journey began with creating collages in the early 2000s. His works combined photocopies, documents, and drawings layered together to produce abstract images, often reflecting influences from surrealism and expressionist painting.
Smith gained prominence in the art world with a groundbreaking series of paintings in the early 2000s, which featured the letters of his own name. Using these letters as a foundation, Smith explored abstraction, constructing imagery that challenged traditional forms of representation. Over time, his work evolved into partly figurative series, introducing motifs such as palm trees, skeletons, fish, devils, and his iconic Grim Reaper—a recurring subject that debuted prominently in 11 pieces during his 2017 solo exhibition at STANDARD (OSLO).
In addition to painting, Smith’s artistic repertoire includes sculptures, ceramics, artist books, and collages, showcasing his ability to traverse a variety of mediums with ease. Each work reflects his commitment to experimentation and his rejection of conventional boundaries in art-making.
Smith pursued higher education at Miami University from 1994 to 1996 and later at the University of Tennessee from 1996 to 1998. His educational background laid the foundation for a career that has continuously pushed the limits of creativity.
Today, Smith is recognized as an artist who boldly navigates abstraction and figuration, engaging audiences with his innovative techniques and compelling thematic explorations.
Art Through Bold Experimentation
Josh Smith is renowned for his expertise across a wide range of mediums, including painting, collage, sculpture, bookmaking, printmaking, and ceramics, and for his habit of deliberately challenging prevailing trends in painting and sculpture. Despite his multidisciplinary practice, he is best recognized for his work as a painter.
Smith often works in series, with his most iconic pieces being gestural paintings that prominently feature his own name. In these works, the letters shift between recognizable forms and abstract shapes. In recent years, however, his focus has shifted to figurative motifs, such as leaves, fish, skeletons, insects, ghosts, and sunsets.
By choosing these seemingly arbitrary subjects and portraying them with an approach that alternates between aggressive, playful, repetitive, and elusive, Smith invites viewers to look beyond surface aesthetics. His use of moody colors and broad, expressive brushstrokes shifts the emphasis to the act of creation and the exploration of abstraction's potential.
Smith’s work is included in numerous prestigious public collections around the world, such as The Broad in Los Angeles; the Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh; the Centre Pompidou in Paris; Moderna Museet in Stockholm; Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal; The Museum of Modern Art in New York; Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien (MUMOK) in Vienna; and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
Breaking the Rules of Art
Josh Smith's artistic journey is defined by his ability to seamlessly navigate across a wide array of mediums, including painting, collage, sculpture, book and printmaking, and ceramics. What sets him apart is his deliberate approach to challenging the conventions of painting and sculpture, often flipping trends on their heads.
Smith first became recognized for his bold paintings that featured his own name as the central subject. Over time, his focus shifted to seemingly random yet evocative motifs like leaves, fish, skeletons, insects, ghosts, and sunsets. His treatment of these subjects is anything but ordinary—aggressive, playful, repetitive, and at times elusive—encouraging viewers to shift their attention from mere aesthetics to the underlying process and the act of perception itself.
A Versatile Force in Contemporary Art
Josh Smith’s artistic journey is marked by his mastery across multiple mediums and a profound impact on the contemporary art scene. Known for his bold experimentation and a prolific approach, Smith seamlessly blends painting, collage, sculpture, printmaking, and bookmaking, crafting a distinctive artistic language that challenges conventional norms.
His work has been celebrated globally, with solo exhibitions at esteemed institutions including the Bonner Kunstverein in Bonn, Museo d’Arte Contemporanea Roma in Rome, The Brant Foundation in Greenwich, CT, Centre d’Art Contemporain Genève in Geneva, De Hallen Haarlem in the Netherlands, and MUMOK in Vienna. Smith’s collaborations with prominent galleries like David Zwirner have further solidified his reputation. His first exhibition with the gallery, Emo Jungle, spanned three locations in New York in 2019. Subsequent shows like High As Fuck in 2020 and a 2023 presentation in Paris showcased his evolution as a dynamic and ever-relevant artist.
Smith’s art has also been a focal point in major group exhibitions. Highlights include The Painting Factory: Abstraction after Warhol at MOCA Los Angeles, ILLUMInations at the 54th Venice Biennale, The Generational: Younger Than Jesus at the New Museum in New York, and The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World at MoMA New York. His inclusion in shows like Painting 2.0: Expression in the Information Age at the Museum Brandhorst in Munich and MUMOK in Vienna, and Trouble in Paradise: Collection Rattan Chadha at Kunsthal Rotterdam, underscores his influence in redefining contemporary painting.
Smith’s works are part of prominent public collections worldwide, including The Broad in Los Angeles, Carnegie Museum of Art in Pittsburgh, Centre Pompidou in Paris, Moderna Museet in Stockholm, Musée d’art contemporain de Montréal, MoMA in New York, MUMOK in Vienna, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York. These institutions celebrate Smith’s ability to traverse abstraction and figuration, pushing boundaries and exploring new possibilities.
Renowned for his gestural paintings and iconic motifs—ranging from his own name to leaves, fish, and skeletons—Smith’s work invites viewers to reflect on the process of art-making itself. His pieces transcend aesthetic appeal, encouraging a deeper engagement with the themes of transformation, repetition, and abstraction.
As an artist who continues to challenge and expand the boundaries of contemporary art, Josh Smith’s legacy is one of innovation, versatility, and an unwavering commitment to exploration.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
- Spectre by Josh Smith, showcased at David Zwirner, London, 2020.
- A solo presentation at Bonner Kunstverein, Bonn, 2016.
- The American Dream, exhibited at The Brant Foundation Art in Greenwich, Connecticut, 2011.
- A major solo show at Deitch Studios, New York, 2010.
- A solo exhibition hosted by Luhring Augustine in New York City, 2009.
- Josh Smith’s solo display at Jonathan Viner Gallery, London, 2007.
Group Exhibitions
- The Forever Now: Contemporary Painting in an Atemporal World at MoMA, New York, 2015.
- Surface to Surface, featuring Josh Smith, held at Jonathan Viner Gallery, London, 2012.
- Barbaric Freedom, presented at Simon Lee Gallery, London, 2010.
- Collaborative exhibition with Sophie von Hellermann at Museum Dhondt-Dhaenens, Deurle, 2010.
FAQ
Who is Josh Smith?
Josh Smith is an artist based in New York and Tennessee. He works in painting, collage, sculpture, printmaking, and artist's books. His art challenges traditional painting methods by mixing handmade and found objects.
What is the focus of Josh Smith's artistic style?
Josh Smith celebrates experimentation and refinement in his art. He pushes the limits of painting while showing deep respect for art history. His work often features bold colors and a mix of abstract and representational styles.
What are Josh Smith's "name paintings"?
Josh Smith's "name paintings" are famous for featuring his own name. These paintings question what makes an artist's style unique. They also explore the idea of identity in art.
What mediums and techniques does Josh Smith use in his practice?
Josh Smith works with many mediums, including painting, collage, sculpture, and printmaking. His use of mixed media started with printmaking. He now incorporates found and manufactured objects into his art.
How has Josh Smith's work been received by the art world?
Josh Smith has had many solo exhibitions around the world. His work is in collections like the Centre Pompidou and the Museum of Modern Art. Critics praise his innovation and emotional depth.
What are some of the recurring motifs and themes in Josh Smith's work?
Josh Smith often uses palm trees, fish, and other subjects in his art. These motifs are shown in different styles, from playful to serious. They help him explore process and the act of looking.
How has Josh Smith's work influenced contemporary art?
Josh Smith's work has inspired many artists today. His unique approach to painting and mixed media has sparked discussions about abstraction and representation. His work also highlights the importance of the artist's hand in the digital age.
Source Links
- https://www.brantfoundation.org/exhibitions/josh-smith-the-american-dream/
- https://www.luhringaugustine.com/exhibitions/josh-smith2
- https://www.luhringaugustine.com/exhibitions/josh-smith
- https://www.davidzwirner.com/news/2019/josh-smith-is-now-represented-by-david-zwirner
- https://www.hauserwirth.com/resources/30517-conversation-drawing-centers-laura-hoptman-josh-smith-mary-weatherford/
- https://www.artspace.com/artists/josh_smith
- https://www.artspace.com/magazine/interviews_features/josh_smith_interview
- https://www.davidzwirner.com/artists/josh-smith
- https://www.davidzwirner.com/news/2010/the-journal-interview-with-josh-smith
- https://www.luhringaugustine.com/exhibitions/josh-smith5
- https://www.pontiart.com/artists/artist smith josh.html
- https://ewing-gallery.utk.edu/past-exhibitions/
- https://www.33contemporary.com/archive
- https://www.juliamartingallery.com/exhibitions
- https://www.red225.com/
- https://www.shawnsmithart.com/news.html
- https://observer.com/2013/10/joshua-smith-on-josh-smith/
- http://www.artnet.com/artists/josh-smith/biography
- https://www.davidzwirner.com/exhibitions/2020/josh-smith-london-2020/press-release
- https://art.utk.edu/ut-printmaking-annual-newsletter-fall-2024/
- https://www.hybridpress.net/cv
- https://huntercollegeart.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/moyer_cv_2017-dcmooregallery1.pdf
Selena Mattei
