Clive Smith: The Fragile Boundaries of Connection

"I am interested in how contemporary painting can speak to modern societal issues. For two decades, I primarily focused on portraits, including self-portraits. Much like Lucian Freud, these paintings capture the emotional density of the sitter."

Clive Smith, The New York LiveMag!, 2018

Clive Smith (b. 1967, St. Albans, England) is a British painter renowned for his meticulous realism and psychologically charged works. A graduate of Kingston Polytechnic, he moved to New York in 1988, where he studied at the Art Students League. Smith gained international recognition after winning the prestigious BP Portrait Award in 1999. His works, housed in notable collections such as the Cleveland Museum of Art and the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art, explore themes of introspection, human connection, and the passage of time, blending technical mastery with profound emotional resonance.

"One+One_One Without" (1997) is a poignant exploration of human connection and emotional distance. The painting features two figures seated back-to-back on a bed, physically close yet emotionally detached. Set in a sparse interior with muted tones and natural light, the composition emphasizes solitude and introspection.

Smith’s meticulous realism, evident in the detailed textures of the wooden floor and fabric, draws viewers into a contemplative atmosphere. The title, "One+One_One Without", underscores the tension between unity and separation, making this work a profound meditation on the complexities of relationships.

This piece is emblematic of Smith’s focus during the late 1990s on introspective interiors and his ability to evoke narrative ambiguity through everyday scenes. With its technical precision and emotional depth, "One+One_One Without" captures the essence of Smith’s artistic inquiry into the human condition.