Ponti Art Gallery is interested in buying and selling works
of art by this artist.
Josh Smith Biography
Josh Smith is a contemporary American artist whose diverse and prolific body of work has made a significant impact on the art world. Born in 1976 in Okinawa, Japan, Smith was raised in Tennessee, where the rich tapestry of his upbringing would later influence his eclectic artistic style. He is known for his expressive approach to art, which encompasses a variety of mediums including painting, collage, sculpture, printmaking, and artist's books.
Smith's journey into the arts began with his education. He attended Miami University in Ohio from 1994 to 1996 before transferring to the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 1998. Initially trained as a printmaker, Smith's early work was rooted in the discipline of printmaking, but he quickly expanded his practice to include other forms of visual expression.
In the early 2000s, Smith gained attention for his series of paintings that prominently featured the letters of his own name. These works, which often incorporated the letters as a base for building abstract imagery, were a bold exploration of identity, authorship, and the role of the artist. This body of work was characterized by its aggressive and repetitive nature, challenging the boundaries of good taste and conventional aesthetics.
Smith's art is deeply subjective and often counter-cultural, questioning contemporary tastes and norms. He works prolifically, producing a vast array of works that are both strategic and methodical. Despite their apparent spontaneity, Smith's canvases are the result of an intense psychological process, with some pieces taking years to complete. He has described his approach to art as thinking in paint, using his work as a vehicle for testing ideas and interrogating various subjects, including the creative process itself, the meaning of being an artist, and the complexities of everyday life.
Throughout his career, Smith has freely borrowed from the vocabulary of modern painting, creating expressionistic, gestural, and colorful canvases. His work is known for engaging in a celebratory project of experimentation and refinement, upending the conventions of painting while demonstrating a deep awareness of its history. Smith's art is often seen as a form of interrogation, whether it be about the creative process, what it means to be an artist, or the vagaries of everyday life.
Smith's work has been featured in numerous solo and group exhibitions worldwide. Notable solo exhibitions include "Josh Smith: Spectre" at David Zwirner, London in 2020, "The American Dream" at The Brant Foundation Art Study Center in Greenwich, Connecticut in 2011, and "Hidden Darts" at the Museum Moderner Kunst Stiftung Ludwig Wien in Vienna, Austria in 2008. His works are held in major public and private collections, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, The Museum of Modern Art in New York, and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.
In recent years, Smith has continued to evolve his practice, creating works that are more pictorial and feature singular subjects such as leaves, fish, skeletons, reapers, and palm trees. These subjects are chosen for their simplicity and universality, allowing Smith to focus on the act of painting itself rather than on pictorial virtuosity. His paintings serve as hosts for expression and experimentation, with vibrant abstractions that embrace life's contradictions and complexities.
Smith's influence extends beyond his paintings, as he also creates sculptures, ceramics, books, prints, and posters. His art is a testament to his dedication to exploring the boundaries of artistic expression and his commitment to an honest visual practice that resonates with a wide audience.
Living and working in New York, Josh Smith continues to be a prominent figure in contemporary art, known for his unique approach to creation and his ability to challenge and redefine the parameters of modern painting. His work remains a vibrant and dynamic force, reflecting his ongoing exploration of the artistic process and the endless possibilities of visual language.
Josh Smith Quotes and Sales of
Works
Ponti Art Gallery selects and deals with paintings by the
artist. Upon request, we provide free estimates and
evaluations, communicate prices, quotations, and current
market values.
If you are interested in BUYING or SELLING works by the
artist, contact us immediately.
If you wish to sell or receive an evaluation of the
works:
Send us a frontal photo of the painting, one of the back,
and one of the signature. Also, indicate the dimensions of
the work. Inform us about the purchase origin of the work
and any kind of available documentation (purchase
receipts, certificates of authenticity, publications). One
of our operators will respond to you on the same day. We
guarantee maximum confidentiality and extreme
professionalism.
If you wish to purchase works by the painter: Contact us
and let us know your request. We will inform you about the
available works. We also offer the possibility to
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informed at the beginning of each month about the latest
acquisitions of the art gallery.
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