Matt Smith


 
Matt Smith was born in 1960 in Kansas City, Missouri. At an early age he moved with his family to Arizona, where he developed a lifelong connection to the Sonoran Desert and the great outdoors—a connection that would eventually influence his decision to paint the landscape. As a teenager, he also lived for two years in France and one year in Switzerland. While in Europe, he had the opportunity to visit many of the great museums, which helped solidify his love for art.

In 1985, Smith earned a BFA degree in painting from Arizona State University. Somewhat frustrated with the abstract focus of the program at ASU, he began looking to outside sources for inspiration and guidance. These sources included fellow artists, fine art galleries, and museums, and this is where his "real" education began.

These days, Smith can often be found painting en plein air from southern Arizona to the Canadian Rockies, and from the California coast to the Rocky Mountains. “I appreciate traditional landscape painting, and I am inspired by the pristine landscapes of the American West. I enjoy working in areas where one can travel for miles without seeing the influence of humans. When I paint, I feel I’ve hit the mark when I’ve captured a balance between mood, look, and feel."

Smith currently lives in Arizona.

Matt Smith is represented by Claggett/Rey Gallery, Edwards, Colorado; Del Monte Fine Art, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California; Legacy Gallery, Scottsdale, Arizona; Mark Sublette Medicine Man Gallery, Tucson, Arizona; Maxwell Alexander Gallery, Los Angeles, California; Simpson Gallagher Gallery, Cody, Wyoming; and Waterhouse Gallery, Santa Barbara, California.

Amy Scott, the Autry's Executive Vice President of Research and Interpretation, speaks with MATT SMITH. Recorded live in Scottsdale, Arizona, in March 2022 at the home of Autry Trustee Jim Parks. View the interview here. 

View the Autry’s interview with Matt Smith here. Recorded live January/2023. 


 

Filter by:
Price
Sort by: