About the artist...

Watch James Andrew Smith's October 2024 Group Show: Floral Realism here.

View James Andrew Smith's August 2023 Group Show: Realism here.

Read an article on American Art Collector magazine about James's 2023 group show Realism here. 

Take a virtual tour of James' 2016 two-person show with Sarah Ferguson here and his work in our 2019 group show here.

James Andrew Smith began painting when he was 12 years old, studying with a respected Tulsa artist. The only child in an adult art class, his instinct for color, light and form were clearly evident and they continue to be hallmarks of his work as a contemporary realist. James attended Booker T. Washington High School, Tulsa’s landmark program of school integration, where he continued art exploration. His art teacher was instrumental in providing him with the encouragement to pursue his creativity. During high school, James worked for Renberg’s, a once local Tulsa department store, creating hand-drawn fashion illustrations for their weekly newspaper advertisements.

After high school, James attended Kansas City Art Institute for a short time before returning to Oklahoma to complete a degree in Graphic Design. After 10 years as a successful designer, James returned to his childhood love of oil painting and formally began his art career in 2001.

James’ focus is primarily the still life, a context that allows him to control the composition, lighting and subject matter. In taking ordinary objects and presenting them in a contemporary manner, his work carries on the historic precedent of elevating commonplace subject matter to the status of fine art. As a Native American artist, James believes that the tradition of still life allows him to explore the complexities of representation, examining what is seen as well as that which is obscured.

Visit artist's website - www.jamesandrewsmithart.com