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Ray Smith Art

American, Mexican, b. 1959

Ray Smith is a contemporary artist who combines the techniques of print- and collage-making with a Cubist aesthetic in his unique signature compositions. His abstract paintings and sculptures can often be classified as Surrealist for their otherworldly qualities. Smith uses anthropomorphism and visual juxtaposition to jar the viewer and give his creations a magically alien quality.

Smith was born in Texas in 1959 but grew up in Central Mexico. He attended art school in both countries before settling in Cuernavaca, Mexico; he also regularly traveled to New York. He held his first solo exhibitions in Mexico at the Instituto Mexicano Norteamericano de Relaciones Culturales in 1979 and in New York at Tower Gallery in 1984.

Smith’s work grew in prestige and popularity over the years for its exuberant style and cross-cultural sensibilities. He drew as much from famed European artists like Pablo Picasso as from the traditional Mexican muralists, exploring themes such as birth, family, culture, war, politics and death. By 1989, Smith was participating in the Whitney Biennial in New York City.

Smith has continued to exhibit his work in the United States and Mexico. His paintings are in the collections of the Brooklyn Museum, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Centro Cultural de Arte Contemporáneo in Mexico City.

In 2019, Smith held a “Celebrating 10 Years of Ray Smith Studio” exhibition at his studio in Brooklyn, New York. Today, he splits his time between New York and Cuernavaca, Mexico.

On 1stDibs, find Ray Smith’s paintings, sculptures and other art.

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Sueño de un Boy Scout by Ray Smith surreal nude print in green and yellow
Sueño de un Boy Scout by Ray Smith surreal nude print in green and yellow

Sueño de un Boy Scout by Ray Smith surreal nude print in green and yellow

By Ray Smith

Located in New York, NY

Ray Smith elucidates the "Dream of a Boy Scout" in this surreal green, red, and yellow wood cut print. A woman with two faces sits nude within a diamond-shaped gold field of color, reaching up with her hand and out with her leg to touch the corners of the diamond, which each nestle a light fixture. Sueño de un Boy Scout, 1988-9 Woodcut in black, red and green, on oiled Japon, signed and dated in black ink, numbered 1/30 (there were also 3 artist's proofs) 25 x 39 in. Per the Broad: "Ray Smith’s paintings incorporate surrealistic and animistic tendencies informed by his Latin heritage as well as deep study of the history of modern art. Smith was born near the Texas/Mexico border...

Category

1980s Pop Art Ray Smith Art

Materials

Woodcut

"The Wait" 2020 signed original limited edition silkscreen 12x18in abstract
"The Wait" 2020 signed original limited edition silkscreen 12x18in abstract

"The Wait" 2020 signed original limited edition silkscreen 12x18in abstract

By Ray Smith

Located in Miami, FL

Ray Smith (United States, 1959) 'La Espera', 2020 Silkscreen on paper. Edition of 50 11.7 x 17.8 in. (29.5 x 45 cm.) Ref: SMI-101 Ray Smith (American, b.1959) Born in Brownsville, T...

Category

Early 2000s Contemporary Ray Smith Art

Materials

Ink, Screen

Cartas de Japon by Ray Smith surreal Dali esque print Japanese portfolio
Cartas de Japon by Ray Smith surreal Dali esque print Japanese portfolio

Cartas de Japon by Ray Smith surreal Dali esque print Japanese portfolio

By Ray Smith

Located in New York, NY

Ray Smith's aptitude for the surreal is apparent in this portfolio of six drypoint prints, presented in a portfolio case. Each image depicts an intriguing, fantastic landscape populated with chimeric nudes. Each one is carefully printed to appear as if doodled on lined notebook paper with ballpoint pen: Japanese letter paper chine-colle on Kizuki Hosho paper. Translated as "Letters from Japan," Cartas de Japon plays on tropes of an exotic, faraway land. The series of prints perhaps pictures Japan in the imagination of westerners, who for centuries speculated that those from other continents had wildly different bodies and customs. The title may be a reference to iconic Mexican director Carlos Velo's 1973 film Letters from Japan. Cartas del Japon, 1988-89 Portfolio of 6 drypoint prints printed on Japanese letter paper mounted on Kizuki Hosho paper Plate 6 x 7.8 in. Paper 18 x 23.4 in. Ed. 30 with three artist proofs. Printed by Hideharu Mishio, Norimasa Mizutani, and Marie Okada at Woodblock Workshop. Published by AC&T CORPORATION, Tokyo, 1989. Per the Broad: "Ray Smith’s paintings incorporate surrealistic and animistic tendencies informed by his Latin heritage as well as deep study of the history of modern art. Smith was born near the Texas/Mexico border...

Category

1980s Pop Art Ray Smith Art

Materials

Drypoint

Vase 5
Vase 5

Vase 5

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Vase Ceramics

Category

2010s Ray Smith Art

Materials

Ceramic

White Mirror
White Mirror

White Mirror

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Painted mirror in white

Category

2010s Abstract Ray Smith Art

Materials

Mirror

Serie: Mujeres con espejo 5

Serie: Mujeres con espejo 5

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Mixed technique

Category

2010s Contemporary Ray Smith Art

Materials

Mirror, Wood, Paint

Yellow Mirror
Yellow Mirror

Yellow Mirror

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Painted mirror in yellow

Category

2010s Abstract Ray Smith Art

Materials

Mirror

Blue Mirror
Blue Mirror

Blue Mirror

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Painted mirror

Category

2010s Abstract Ray Smith Art

Materials

Mirror

Vase 3
Vase 3

Vase 3

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Vase Ceramics

Category

2010s Ray Smith Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vase 2
Vase 2

Vase 2

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Vase Ceramics

Category

2010s Ray Smith Art

Materials

Ceramic

Red Mirror
Red Mirror

Red Mirror

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Painted mirror

Category

2010s Abstract Ray Smith Art

Materials

Mirror

Vase 6
Vase 6

Vase 6

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Vase Ceramics

Category

2010s Ray Smith Art

Materials

Ceramic

Vase 1
Vase 1

Vase 1

By Ray Smith

Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos

Vase Ceramics

Category

2010s Ray Smith Art

Materials

Ceramic

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Located in Southampton, NY

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Previously Available Items
Serie: Abstractos con espejo 2

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Early Ray Smith Diptych

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Category

1970s Mexican Modern Vintage Ray Smith Art

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Ray Smith art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Ray Smith art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ray Smith in glass, mirror, ceramic 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 abstract style. Not every interior allows for large Ray Smith art, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Randi Grantham, Duane Paul, and L.G.. Ray Smith art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $300 and tops out at $20,000, while the average work can sell for $15,000.

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