Steve Smith

For 15 years, I’ve been working to complete
a body of art that focuses on the underbelly of personal emotional
dialog, primarily questions of my own physical abilities (or lack there
of) and intellectual shortcomings. Coupled with an intense interest in
the extremes to which people go to toward achieving satisfaction, be it
physical, spiritual, emotional, or sexual. Like the Austrian, and
German Expressionists before me, I’ve attempted to open doors to a
world that may be uncomfortable for some to step in to. A glaring
reality that uses humor to convey scenarios, which the viewer is
attracted to, though generally left with a sense of shamed arousal. I
desire to take this a step further with my newest body of work, and
actually force the viewer to take an unabashed look at their own past.

A majority of these ‘found paintings’ are what could have hung on the walls of their childhood homes, or perhaps on the walls of a grandparent’s house. One could feel quite at ease looking at the atypical art liquidation style sofa painting, yet simultaneously feel a bit unnerved taking in the conflicting image. These people aren’t supposed to be there. Or are they? Perhaps they were all that was missing from the previously assumed finished pieces.

Much like looking into a mirror, and barely recognizing the face that’s looking back, my hope is to convey what could only be described as an uncomfortable familiarity.