Alexis Smith was an American artist who achieved great success in the 1970s with her unique blend of postmodern and Pop Art. Born in California in 1949, Smith began her artistic career as a painter before transitioning to mixed media works that incorporated found objects, text, and images from popular culture. Her works often explored themes of identity, memory, and the changing cultural landscape of America. One of Smith's most notable works is Past Lives (1989), a large-scale installation that features a series of vintage suitcases filled with personal belongings and ephemera. The installation speaks to the idea of the self as a collection of memories and experiences, and the ways in which these memories are shaped and influenced by our surroundings. Another key aspect of Smith's work is her use of language and text. Many of her works incorporate found text from sources such as advertisements, movie scripts, and historical documents, which she then recontextualizes to create new meanings and associations. This approach is evident in works such as The Great Divide (1979), which features a series of text fragments arranged in a grid-like pattern. Throughout her career, Smith was recognized for her innovative approach to art-making and her ability to capture the spirit of her time. She received numerous awards and accolades, including a Guggenheim Fellowship and a National Endowment for the Arts grant. Today, her works can be found in the collections of major museums and galleries around the world.
Alexis Smith, American artist, postmodern, Pop Art, mixed media, identity, memory, cultural landscape, installation, language, text, innovation
Alexis Smith is a renowned American artist best known for her work in the 1970s. A blend of postmodern and Pop Art, her works were often inspired by popular culture, while still being full of personality and irony. Notable works by the artist include 'White Light of Jupiter' (1975), 'Return to Hollywood' (1976), 'Witch of Malibu' (1978), and 'The Great Divide' (1979). All four works were created with an abrupt change of color and texture, while exploring the idea of a changing cultural landscape. Smith has been the subject of numerous solo exhibitions, most notably at the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the Los Angeles County Museum of Art.
American artist, Alexis Smith, postmodern, Pop Art, cultural landscape, exhibitions, Whitney Museum, Brooklyn Museum, Los Angeles County Museum.
— Mei Wang
CITATION : "Mei Wang. 'Alexis Smith.' Design+Encyclopedia. https://design-encyclopedia.com/?E=209600 (Accessed on May 23, 2025)"
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