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Nick Smith is a contemporary artist based in Scotland. Well known for his instantly recognisable, pixelated style, Smith experiments with creations at the intersection between picture and pixel, fine art and popular culture.
For over a decade Smith has honed his artistic style; his experiments with abstraction and collage started in 2011, with an assemblage of Warhol’s Marilyn. Using just colour swatches, Smith challenged himself to recreate the iconic image – this was the beginning of his artistic career, and distinctive style.
Through employing and experimenting with colour swatches, Smith is able to explore the intersection of image and word. The combination of language and visual allows a multi-layered exploration into contemporary cultural icons and art historical concepts; the text is often narrative, encouraging the viewer to look deeper than just the visual.
The words sit below or in between the colour swatches, interrupting the blank space between the snippets of pigment. This added element of language subverts or compliments the accompanying image, drawing the viewer in - literally. From large-scale to micro, Smith’s works play with scale. The pixelated ‘image’ is only visible from a distance, whilst the words can only be read up close. This experimentation with perspective allows the viewer to interact with his works in a tangible way, provoking contemplation.
Since 2014, the artist has created and exhibited over 10 collections; the most recent being Polytheism (2023), Posed (2022), and Psycolourgy 2.0 (2021). His recent collection, Polytheism (2023) explored the devotion of sneaker culture. Through depicting tessellated images of iconic, rare, and exclusive sneakers, Smith explored this everyday object as a symbol of identity, culture, and personal expression.
From exploring sneaker culture, to reimaging the work of old masters, to the experimenting purity of colour and tone, Smith’s pixelated creations push the boundaries of artistic practise and expression.
Smith’s works are in collections around the world, and have been featured in high profile auctions such as Bonhams POP X Culture, gaining traction on the secondary market.
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Works
Nick Smith
Liberty, 2024Text: Victor Hugo, Les Misérables, 1862
Eugène Delacroix, La Liberté guidant le peuple, 1830
Louvre, Paris
2046 Colour Chip Collage Collage on Heritage 100% Cotton Museum Board
Framed in Natural Oak with 70% UV Glass121.5 x 149.8 cm
47 7/8 x 59 inSigned and Dated in PencilFurther images
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1of 7Editions
Exhibitions-
Project Room: Provence
Nick Smith 13 Sep - 5 Oct 2024Provence evokes the idyllic landscapes of southern France, conjuring images of the countryside, late summer days, and the vibrant colours that inspired much of Van Gogh’s work during his time...Read more -
PANAME
Nick Smith 3 - 25 May 2024This exhibition celebrates Paris, a city that sparked Smith's passion for art during a memorable school trip at the age of 16, and became a recurring muse in his work....Read more -
POLYTHEISM
Nick Smith 17 - 21 May 2023'Our choice of footwear often reflects our life's journey. Shoes not only offer comfort and protection but also serve as a medium for expressing our diverse tastes and cultural affiliations....Read more
News-
‘Dance at Le Moulin’ Nick Smith's tribute to Renoir’s masterpiece
Renoir’s ‘Bal du moulin de la Galette’ reimagined in pixelated colour chip collage by Nick Smith May 13, 2024Nick Smith's ‘Dance at Le Moulin’ from his current ‘PANAME ’ exhibition here at RHODES is a contemporary reinterpretation of Renoir's ‘Bal du moulin de...Read more -
Nick Smith X Hot Off The Press with Bonhams, in aid of The Trussell Trust.
29th April 2024, 6 - 8 pm April 23, 2024Join us as Nick Smith auctions his one-of-a-kind piece at Bonhams in support of The Trussell Trust charity. Renowned contemporary artist Nick Smith will showcase...Read more -
Nick Smith New Print Drop!
The Release of 'Psalm 65 & 104' by Nick Smith. March 23, 2024Nick Smith , the Scottish artist known for his distinctive pixelated style, has pushed the boundaries of art with his latest print release. Titled ‘Psalm...Read more -
Interview with artist and printmaker Nick Smith
February 24, 2024Nick Smith uses a combination of visual depictions and language to explore the intersection of image and word. Based in Scotland, Smith’s colour swatches create...Read more -
Nick Smith POLYTHEISM Pop-Up
Interview May 21, 2023Last Tuesday saw a highly anticipated debut of Nick Smith’s hit Pop-Up Exhibition POLYTHEISM , which explores how sneakers have transcend cultural boundaries and are...Read more -
Nick Smith Charity Commission at The Rijksmuseum
in collaboration with Philips March 10, 2023On February 10th , 2023, the largest-ever exhibition of Johannes Vermeer opened at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam . A historic event in itself: never have...Read more
Press-
Bonhams: Interview with Nick Smith
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Art Daily - Nick Smith: Pinched
Art Daily -
London Student - Nick Smith: Pinched
London Student -
Interior Design - Nick Smith: Pinched
Interior Design, June 4, 2019 -
Highsnobiety - Nick Smith: Pinched
Highsnobiety, May 23, 2019 -
PINCHED: Nick Smith
May 2, 2019 -
Wide Walls - Nick Smith: Pinched
Wide Walls, May 2, 2019 -
Creative Boom - Nick Smith: Pinched
Creative Boom, April 25, 2019 -
Art Rabbit - Nick Smith: Pinched
Art Rabbit, March 12, 2019 -
Art Today - Priceless by Nick Smith
Art Today, April 18, 2018 -
Vice Magazine Creators - Ruff Ryders Collection at Scope Miami by Nick Smith
Vice Magazine, December 18, 2017 -
Menswear Style - Nick Smith: Parlance
March 27, 2017 -
VNA Magazine - Nick Smith: Parlance
February 24, 2017 -
After Nyne - Nick Smith Paramour
April 15, 2016 -
The Inspiration - Nick Smith Paramour
April 15, 2016 -
Extorted - Nick Smith Paramour
April 15, 2016 -
Supersonic Art - Nick Smith - Paramour
April 15, 2016 -
Status Magazine - Nick Smith Paramour
April 15, 2016 -
High Snobiety - Nick Smith : Paramour
April 8, 2016 -
Design Taxi - Nick Smith Paramour
March 24, 2016 -
The Culture Trip - Nick Smith Paramour
March 22, 2016 -
Digital Arts - Nick Smith Paramour
March 21, 2016 -
Flaneur - Nick Smith Paramour
March 21, 2016 -
Creative Boom - Nick Smith Paramour
March 21, 2016 -
The Creator Project - Nick Smith Paramour
March 11, 2016 -
VNA Magazine - Nick Smith Paramour
March 9, 2016 -
If it's hip it's here - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 10, 2015 -
BBC Arts & Entertainment - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 10, 2015 -
Artwort - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 6, 2015 -
Moderne Klassiker - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 6, 2015 -
Popist - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 6, 2015 -
Dangerous Minds - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 6, 2015 -
The Mirror - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 6, 2015 -
Design Taxi - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
February 5, 2015 -
Artlyst - Nick Smith Psycolourgy
January 22, 2015
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