Ray Smith Paintings
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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Artist: Ray Smith
Serie: Abstractos con espejo 8
By Ray Smith
Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos
Mixed technique
Category
2010s Contemporary Ray Smith Paintings
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Paint
Serie: Mujeres con espejo 5
By Ray Smith
Located in Cuernavaca, Morelos
Mixed technique
Category
2010s Contemporary Ray Smith Paintings
Materials
Mirror, Wood, Paint
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Ray Smith paintings for sale on 1stDibs.
Find a wide variety of authentic Ray Smith paintings available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Ray Smith in glass, mirror, paint 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 Ray Smith paintings, so small editions measuring 16 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Alexis Portilla, Miguel Martinez- Riddle, and Hayoung Kim. Ray Smith paintings prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,500 and tops out at $1,500, while the average work can sell for $1,500.