Artist Statement

Samantha Keely Smith’s paintings explore the landscape of the psyche – the place where the conscious and unconscious meet. They convey a sense of place, or landscape, that can only exist on the periphery of consciousness, continually coming into and out of focus. In her paintings, the existential and the personal—the exterior and the interior—are intertwined, stepping back and forth between the timelessness of dreams and the relentless cycle of change in our daily lives. In her practice Smith looks at the delusions of order and control that we human beings cling to as we navigate the fundamental unpredictability of reality, and sense our own finiteness in the immensity of time and nature.

Throughout all of Smith’s work there is an appreciation for the fragility of life, and at the same time, our boundless capacity to feel hope. Starting from deeply personal experiences, she explores ideas and emotions that many of us share, regardless of language or culture - addressing themes of loss, joy, grief and resilience. Smith captures the psychological intensity of figures and landscapes through a dynamic interplay of light, shadow, and movement.

Her figures, often derived initially from the works of Masters, or from found photographs, are reinterpreted with elements drawn from her own experiences and those around her. These figures dissolve into turbulent, abstract landscapes that bridge past and present, inviting reflection on universal emotions that connect us across generations.

In her purely abstract works, Smith is guided by her subconscious, using solvents, scraping, and intuitive gestures to create compositions that balance chaos and serenity. While her palette often evokes the atmospheric light and color of the Romantics, the paintings are unquestionably contemporary in their approach.

Through this integration of art historical influences and contemporary methods, Smith engages our enduring dialogue with the past. Her work reclaims the sublime as a space for collective contemplation in an often disorienting world.

Bio

Brooklyn-based artist Samantha Keely Smith was born in England. After moving to the US as a child, Smith went on to study Fine Arts at the School of Visual Arts in New York. She left SVA after her Freshman year to be the full-time caregiver for her terminally ill Mother. After her Mother’s passing she returned to college at Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University and received a BFA with Honors (Painting, 1991).

Smith’s paintings are included in private and public collections in the US, Europe and UK.

An avid music fan she has collaborated with musicians she greatly admires such as Richard Barbieri (of the renowned British new wave/art rock band Japan), Lloyd Cole, and experimental drone metal band SUNN O))) - whose albums have featured her paintings on their covers.

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