No Child Left Behind? Painting

Tony J. Smith is a contemporary figurative painter whose work explores identity as it forms between people and the spaces they share. Drawing from lived experience, observation, and archival reference, he constructs psychologically resonant scenes shaped through deliberate color and spatial structure. His paintings emphasize presence and interior life rather than overt narrative. Smith has exhibited nationally, including at the LA Art Show and the Black Creativity Exhibition at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, and has been featured in New York Magazine. He is represented by Artifact Projects and is a member of the Los Angeles Art Association. After more than four decades in the graphic arts industry, Smith gradually shifted toward a fully dedicated painting practice. His background in visual design informs the structural clarity of his work, while painting allows for a sustained exploration of relational space and psychological stillness.