Douglas Smith
The Artist
Douglas Smith was educated at the University of Manitoba in the Fine Arts Diploma Program, majoring in contemporary ceramic sculpture, with a minor in painting. In his Winnipeg-based clay studio, Smith created several sculptural series while working exclusively as a clay sculptor from 1986 until 1996. During that time he participated in several group and solo exhibitions within Manitoba and in the United States.
From 1996-2001, Smith re-located first to Cleveland and then Rotterdam. It was during this transitional period, he began a re-alignment of his artistic practice toward drawing and painting exclusively. Upon his return to Winnipeg in 2001, Smith began work on what would become, a 14-year, large-scale, multi-series drawing project entitled Catharsis. This suite of drawings incorporates elements of arena architecture spaces and radar screen optics as visual stages where he weaves contemporary, hybrid narratives. Smith's use of repetition and diagrammatic symbols, while referencing personalized memories, architecture, pop culture, geological and oceanic maps, spawned a sublime visual language of his own devise.
In a parallel body of work, Smith initiated production on a large series of paintings in acrylic, oil and multi-media paintings, which now include a series of watercolour/acrylic works on paper. His Vancouver-inspired part of the series is entitled Stars and Satellites. In these introspective painted narratives, Smith turns the optics inward and explores the more intimate solitary sense of individual space within ethereal landscape/seascape environs.
Smith's work has been exhibited in several galleries and venues, including the Centre Culturel Franco-Manitobain, McNalley Robinson Booksellers, Lantern Gallery, Dennison University in Ohio, Craftspace Gallery, Site Gallery, The Cleveland Sculpture Center., aceartinc., Art Gallery of Southwestern Manitoba, Plug In ICA, Stride Gallery and La Maison des Artistes. Several of his works have been purchased by the Manitoba Art Bank, the Art Bank of Canada, as well as for the the Manitoba Legislature Building. He has also been the recipient of several Manitoba Arts Council and City of Winnipeg grants, as well as a Canada Art Council grant. In 2013 and 2024, Smith was twice nominated as a finalist for the prestigious Salt Spring National Art Prize.
Douglas Smith currently resides in Vancouver.
