Roch Smith Art
Canadian
Canadian sculptor P. Roch Smith received a BFA (Honours Sculpture) from the Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design (ECIAD - 1997) and an MFA from York University (2003). A teacher as well as an artist, he has taught classes at the University of Waterloo, ECIAD and York University. He currently manages and operates the bronze and aluminum foundry at York University. Roch Smith has exhibited throughout Canada and in the US. P. Roch Smith’s work is included in private, corporate and museum collections.
P. Roch Smith’s work centres on the creativity of play, equilibrium and disequilibrium, and how memories are constructed and held in place - a geography of memory. Smith presents work in which the mass produced (plastic army figures – model kits - tools) are merged with the organic (tree branches, sisal twine and yarn). The figures are unified by bronze casting – fixing their hybridity in both a metaphoric and material manner. The relational nature of value is examined as the tiny scale of the bronze figures is the antithesis of monumentality usually associated with bronze as a sculptural material. While bronze casting normally speaks to permanence and the epic, the scale of these works creates a form of intimacy.
Play has been theorized as a liminal space – occupying both the real and the imagined simultaneously. It is within this topography that Smith tries to point to certain aspects of the human condition. Does replacing the guns on toys with branches change the essential meaning of the situation? Is it absurd? Can a small figure evoke a sympathetic response or reaction?
We manufacture toys with the intention of enabling children to play and the assumption is that this play is free, unencumbered and not contingent. Pulling back, however, it may be argued that the inherent structure of the toy itself echoes strictly adult concerns. Toys and play easily normalize certain ideas about one’s place in the greater scheme of things. Thankfully, children have also long subverted these rigid narrative structures. The altering of toys – drawing tattoos on a doll or shaving the “life-like” hair off of a GI Joe figure – is an aspirational act and speaks to claiming new narratives.
As a maker, Smith maintains this drive to construct and model objects with a sense of playfulness. Ideally, the works are at turns humorous but also manage to evoke a pathos associated with labour, work and the monumentality of mundane tasks. The figures carry weight in both a literal and figurative manner beyond what should be their actual capacity. The scale of the works are important for their small-scale for they invite both a broad and intimate viewing. Viewing the work one enters a space of inspection – of being a giant in a land that is off-kilter – witness to a precarious balance.(Biography provided by OENO Gallery)
to
1
1
2
4
Overall Height
to
Overall Width
to
7
5
4
3
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
7
7
6,856
3,182
2,516
1,217
7
7
4
2
Artist: Roch Smith
The Contour of Balance - tall, figurative, bronze, steel, outdoor sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
As a sculptor, Roch Smith often interprets the big questions in life in imaginative and playful ways. The Toronto artist is known for his use of toys –familiar childhood images that ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Steel, Bronze
House Hunter 1/3 - small, surrealist, figurative, bronze and wood sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Toronto artist Roch Smith often uses toy figures in clever and fun ways to convey cultural statements that go beyond child’s play. This tabletop figure is bending over, arms extended...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Pause 1/3 - small, surrealist, canoe, male, figurative, wood, bronze, sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
The legendary canoeist and Canadian filmmaker Bill Mason once said, “First God made the canoe then he created a country to go with it.”
Sculptor Roch Smith has embraced the iconic i...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Downhill (Knight Ave) - tall, narrative, figurative, male, bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
This fun and somewhat whimsical sculpture recalls a cherished childhood memory for Roch Smith. The Toronto-based sculptor has hand-forged the bronze figure of a young boy on a bike balancing upright on its back wheel-popping a wheelie. He stands poised to ride off the top of a high, narrow steel track that ends in a loop reminiscent of the popular ‘Hot Wheels’ toy race car...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Dream Walker - surrealist, abstracted, figurative, male, bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
The evocative image of tree branches lying on the ground caught the imagination of sculptor Roch Smith. The Toronto artist re-envisioned the natural for...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Daily Grind - Patinated bronze cups stacked on a male figure
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A tower of cups stacked face to face and end to end create a beautifully undulating formal column reminiscent of Brancusi's Endless Column. Precariously balanced on the shoulders of a small bronze figure...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Enlarging Perspective - Surreal stretched male figure in bronze
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
It’s a striking image—a man, standing—his legs impossibly long, his arms spread wide affording him, perhaps a new and bigger perspective. Is this the intention behind Toronto artist ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Related Items
Small Limited Edition Bronze Sculpture "Bull Terrier 2/12"
By Melani Louwrens
Located in Cape Town, ZA
A small, limited edition bronze Bull Terrier sculpture. Edition 2 of 12.
FREE SHIPPING
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Free Shipping
H 7.49 in W 2.37 in D 10.24 in
The Messenger
By Craig Campbell
Located in Loveland, CO
The Messenger by Craig Campbell
Expressionistic Raven Sculpture
18 x 5 x 10" Bronze 1/1
ABOUT THE ARTIST: Craig Campbell began sculpting more than 25 years ago and received his BFA ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
"Literature II" contemporary bronze table mural sculpture figurative girl book
Located in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Literature II is a bronze sculpture connected to a steel base. The edition size is 25. This sculpture stands on shelf as well as be hung on wall. It captures a girl reading a book an...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 13.39 in W 8.27 in D 5.12 in
Robed in Indigo
By Denny Haskew
Located in Loveland, CO
Robed in Indigo by Denny Haskew
Figurative Bronze Female Bust, mounted on granite and walnut base with turntable and brass nameplate as pictured. Features a gorgeous patina that is o...
Category
1990s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Granite, Bronze
On the Water's Edge XIV - contemporary bronze sculpture of nude female
By Susanne Kraisser
Located in Hamburg, DE
"On the Water's Edge XIV" is a bronze sculpture of a nude sitting female on a wooden block. Edition 18, signed, numbered and dated on the bottom. The wooden block can be hung on a w...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 8.27 in W 5.52 in D 4.34 in
Girl Sitting XIII - contemporary bronze sculpture, nude female on wooden block
By Susanne Kraisser
Located in Hamburg, DE
"Girl Sitting XIII" is a bronze sculpture of a nude sitting female on a wooden block. Edition 18, signed, numbered and dated on the bottom. The wooden block can be hung on a wall (c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Susanne KraisserGirl Sitting XIII - contemporary bronze sculpture, nude female on wooden block, 2020
H 8.27 in W 5.12 in D 4.73 in
Georgian Contemporary Sculpture by Rezo Khasia - Torso
Located in Paris, IDF
Bronze & wood sculpture
Rezo Khasia is a Georgian artist born in 1947 who lives and works in Tbilisi, Georgia. The sculptures performed by him are generalized and minimalist. He Uses as a working material the bronze, wood, stone, metal and general energy, which perfectly perfects both exterior and interior spaces. All sculpture itself is made of solid material. He has implemented many creative projects both in Georgia and abroad, participated in both domestic and international exhibitions, exhibitions-competitions, symposia and architectural-creative competitions. He has been awarded from numerous creative awards and prizes as Grand Prix - Work Muse International Sculpture Symposium in Nadiotadi, Hungary, I Prize - International Exhibition-Competition Olympiad-2004 in Tbilisi, Georgia, Grand Prix in Sculpture - International Exhibition at Blue Gallery...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 16.93 in W 5.12 in D 5.12 in
Contemporary Figurative Animal Sculpture by Wang Dapeng- The Night
Located in Beijing, CN
This sculpture by Wang Dapeng is signed and numbered. Edition 30 / 99.
Wang Dapeng is a contemporary Realist sculptor. He makes images of spiritual anima...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Free Shipping
H 9.85 in W 13.78 in D 3.94 in
Girl Sitting VIII - contemporary bronze sculpture, nude female on wooden block
By Susanne Kraisser
Located in Hamburg, DE
"Girl Sitting VIII" is a bronze sculpture of a nude sitting female on a wooden block. Edition 18, signed, numbered and dated on the bottom. The wooden block can be hung on a wall (c...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Susanne KraisserGirl Sitting VIII - contemporary bronze sculpture, nude female on wooden block, 2020
H 7.88 in W 3.94 in D 4.73 in
Girl Sitting XIV - contemporary bronze sculpture of nude female on wooden block
By Susanne Kraisser
Located in Hamburg, DE
"Girl Sitting XIV" is a bronze sculpture of a nude sitting female on a wooden block. Edition 18, signed, numbered and dated on the bottom. The wooden block can be hung on a wall (comes with the hinges to hang up on the wall).
The sculptress Susanne Kraisser is to be considered as part of the great modern figurative tradition. She was born in 1977 in Rosenheim, Southern Germany. She studied both at the Academy of Fine Arts Nuremberg and the University of Arts in Bremen. She graduated with distinction in 2007 in Nuremberg and received her Diploma with distinction in 2008 in Bremen. She has won numerous awards and exhibits nationally as well as internationally.
Artist Statement: For me, sculpture is particularly shape and material, volume and size, space, movement and statics.
I focus on the ‘female body’, presenting it either as an intimate miniature or on a monumental scale – each time as a solitary figure.
In terms of content, my work focuses on identifying and combining polarities, such as instability and strength, fragility and solidity, activity and passivity, movement and statics, balance and volume, and dependence and autarchy.
I work predominantly with the materials bronze, aluminium and wood. The small miniatures are made from wax and are then cast in bronze as part of what is known as the wax smelting process. Large-scale pieces are similarly cast in aluminium or created directly out of wood. The various work processes and tools determine the appearance of the surface; for wax, it’s my hands, and for wood, it’s my chainsaw.
Each material is a new challenge for me. My previous wood-sculpting studies involved respecting the material’s limits to create craft of solid quality in keeping with the material.
But this is where the intense discussion and its limit become clear. I fight with the material, and a lot of things go wrong. It becomes my opponent, whose limits I test out and reset if necessary. Cautious movements requiring a lot of physical tension are maintained without losing their inner dynamics.
Amidst the often harmonious external form is a harsh dissonance evidenced by the rough, fragmented design...
Category
21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 8.27 in W 5.52 in D 4.34 in
"Sunset" contemporary bronze table, mural sculpture figurative girl dance sunset
Located in Kowloon, Hong Kong
Sensitivity is a bronze sculpture connected to a steel base. The edition size is 25. This sculpture stands on shelf as well as be hung on wall. It captures the posture of a ballet da...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 11.62 in W 8.67 in D 3.94 in
Mother and Children bronze sculpture by Caroline Russell
By Caroline Russell
Located in London, GB
One of the first sculptures Caroline made after her second child was born. Her children and her often used to sit in this position when they were small. They both used to want to sit on her lap at the same time, so sat on one knee each.
Caroline Russell...
Category
Early 2000s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Free Shipping
H 7.88 in W 5.91 in D 3.94 in
Previously Available Items
Hold Fast - tall, surrealist, male, figurative, bronze, steel, outdoor sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Toronto artist Roch Smith was inspired by recent events to create a new metal sculpture that reflects on the idea of community—lending a hand to others in need. ‘Hold Fast’ is a play...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Work/Play Balance - tall, narrative, figurative, male, bronze, wood, sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
As a young boy Roch Smith used to take apart his mother’s wooden clothes pegs and glue them together to create various objects like ships and cars. Recalling those early creative imp...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 65.5 in W 14 in D 14 in
Reliable Technology - tall, narrative, figurative, male, bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Roch Smith continues to conjure up images of his childhood by creating uniquely dynamic and fun sculptures. This piece combines two popular playtime objects—Tinker Toys and a tin can...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 62.5 in W 48 in D 20 in
Enfold (Tree Men Series) - small, surrealist, males, figurative bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Canadian sculptor P. Roch Smith’s ‘Tree Men’ were inspired by a walk in the woods. Smith noticed that fallen twigs and branches had interesting shapes and he imagined them replacing human limbs. In this bronze piece, two naked male...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 10.5 in W 8 in D 8.5 in
Reunion (Tree Men Series) - small, surrealist, male, figurative bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
P. Roch Smith’s playful bronze ‘Tree Men’ series was inspired by a walk in the woods. The Canadian sculptor imagined fallen twigs and branches replacing human limbs. With Reunion, tw...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 11.5 in W 12 in D 8.5 in
Canadiana: Tug of War - tall, narrative, figurative, male bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Bronze cast figurines of two men, one at each at end of a bronze rope, standing on a teeter totter -- one man merely holds his end of the rope, the other one pulls. The whole is bal...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Semblance of Balance - Bronze casted male figure with stacked spheres
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
The thoughtful, playful sculptures of Roch Smith often revolve around the idea of finding balance in one’s life. With this bronze, patinated piece, the Toronto artist has cast a male...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 62.5 in W 8.5 in D 8.5 in
Evolution of a Vantage Point 3/4 - surrealist, male, figurative bronze sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Available by commission, please allow 4-6 weeks for completion upon delivery.
Roch Smith’s inspired bronze sculpture is a clever ‘play’ on a popular saying. “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants,” (Sir Isaac Newton...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
Memory Houses - Patinated male figure and stacked shaped houses
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Roch Smith is known for his fun and thoughtful sculptures. His creative use of scale and form—small figures that take on big tasks is evident in this bronze piece. A man, dressed in ...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze, Steel
H 67 in W 17 in D 17 in
Branch Executive - small, bronze surrealist male sculpture
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Canadian artist P. Roch Smith taps into a surrealist sensibility in the bronze sculpture of a suited man sprouting tree branches in place of arms.
"Using toys...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 8.5 in W 11 in D 4 in
Counterpoise
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
Canadian sculptor P. Roch Smith taps into a surrealist sensibility in this bronze narrative of precarious balance -- physical and psychological.
"Using toys...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
Ponder - small, narrative, figurative, male bronze sculpture on wood base
By P. Roch Smith
Located in Bloomfield, ON
A suited man stands poised, staring intently in this intriguing psychological narrative in bronze by sculptor P. Roch Smith. Clues to the story may be found in the figure's contempor...
Category
2010s Contemporary Roch Smith Art
Materials
Bronze
H 11.75 in W 16.5 in D 7 in
Roch Smith art for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Roch Smith art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Roch Smith in bronze, metal, steel and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Roch Smith art, so small editions measuring 8 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Jennifer Small, Ginette Legare, and Steven Heinemann. Roch Smith art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,600 and tops out at $19,000, while the average work can sell for $7,530.