Clive Smith

Clive Smith (b. 1967, St. Albans, England, UK) lives and works in New York, NY. Smith is a highly trained British painter interested in how contemporary painting can speak to modern social issues.

For two decades, Smith focused primarily on portraiture, including self-portraiture. Much like Lucian Freud, these paintings capture the emotional density of the sitter. Now, in his most recent work, Smith focuses on his research into advances in genomic technology, particularly the studies scientists are conducting with endangered species. These molecular biologists had set themselves the goal of reengineering previously extinct species and bringing them back to life. Smith now combines various species with paintings, altering their DNA to create a new, extraordinary subspecies.

Smith presents an unapologetic and authentic presence of these themes with exquisite mastery. They make us think about how we value the world around us, what is art, what is beautiful, what is enduring, and what is ephemeral.

In 1999, Smith won first prize in the BP Portrait Award at London's National Portrait Gallery. He has had numerous museum exhibitions including the National Portrait Gallery, London, UK. His work is in many public collections including the Cleveland Museum of Art, USA; Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, KC, USA; and the National Portrait Gallery, London, UK.