Josh Smith

Josh Smith stands out for his expertise across various artistic mediums such as painting, collage, sculpture, book art, printmaking, and ceramics. 

Biography of Josh Smith

Josh Smith was born in Okinawa, Japan, in 1976, and was raised in Tennessee, USA.

From 1994 to 1996, he studied at Miami University, Oxford, Ohio. Following that, he attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville from 1996 to 1998, graduating with a BFA.

With a background in printmaking, Josh Smith initially ventured into the world of collages in the early 2000s. His initial recognition came during the same period through a series of canvases featuring his name—a motif that granted him the freedom to explore abstraction, figuration, and the expressive potential inherent in painting.

His recent solo exhibitions include "Josh Smith: Living with Depression" at David Zwirner in Paris (2023), "OK" at MASSIMODECARLO in Milan (2022), "Surprised by Joy" at MASSIMODECARLO Pièce Unique in Paris (2022), "Josh Smith: Keyhole" at Xavier Hufkens in Brussels (2022), and many more.

Josh Smith's paintings, collages, and other works have been featured in numerous group exhibitions, including "Before Tomorrow – Astrup Fearnley Museet 30 Years" at Astrup Fearnley Museet in Oslo (2023), "Beach" at Nino Mier Gallery in New York (2023), "For Keeps: Selected Parkett Editions 1984-2017" at David Zwirner in New York (2022), "Panoramas" at MASSIMODECARLO Pièce Unique in Paris (2021), and "Stop Painting" at Fondazione Prada in Venezia (2021), among others.

Currently, the artist lives and works in New York, USA.

Josh Smith's Art Style

In the early 2000s, he gained initial recognition through a series of canvases portraying his own name. This motif provided a platform for him to freely experiment with abstraction, figuration, and the expressive potential of painting. Over time, his artistic journey evolved to encompass monochromes, gestural abstractions, and diverse imagery, ranging from leaves and fish to skeletons, sunsets, and palm trees—explored in various series.

By choosing seemingly arbitrary subjects and portraying them with a blend of aggressiveness, playfulness, repetition, and obliqueness, using somber colors and broad brushstrokes, Smith urges us to transcend mere aesthetics. Instead, he encourages a shift towards contemplation of process and observation, prompting an exploration of the possibilities inherent in abstraction.

Smith's work constitutes a celebratory and prolific endeavor marked by continuous experimentation and refinement, challenging the conventions of painting while maintaining a profound awareness of its rich history.