Josh Smith

b. 1976, Okinawa, Japan
Lives and works in New York, USA

Josh Smith is an American artist based in New York whose practice spans painting, collage, printmaking and artist books. Originally trained as a printmaker, Smith began making layered collages in the early 2000s, combining photocopies, found documents and drawing to create abstract works influenced by Surrealism and Expressionism.

Smith first gained recognition for paintings incorporating the letters of his own name, using them as a starting point for increasingly abstract and expressive compositions. His practice has since expanded into a diverse range of recurring motifs, including palm trees, fish, skeletons and devils, with the Grim Reaper becoming one of his best-known subjects. Through repetition, bold brushwork and a willingness to embrace imperfection, Smith's work places emphasis on the process of making and the possibilities of painting.