Josh Smith: Abstraction

by Josh Smith (Artist), Sophie Aschauer (Contributor)

Josh Smith's work focuses on themes of authenticity and authorship. He first became known for paintings in which he used his name as a motif on the canvas, shattering the myth of the artist through an act of ironic self-marketing. In his latest series, Abstraction , Smith creates archetypes from abstract paintings--airy compositions in lively colors. Although he takes his stylistic cue from the Abstract Expressionist school, which bestowed mythical status upon the artist, Smith's unusual color combinations and cartoon-like forms retain little of this weighty background. His appropriations from abstract painting are quite direct, and endow this artistic tradition with a refreshing lack of pretension. The first volume of this slipcased set features Smith's abstract paintings; the second features his palette paintings--palettes on which the artist has squeezed out his brushes, pursuing a completely straightforward aesthetic of simple forms. A text booklet contains an interview with the artist.

280 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 2008