Preston M Smith Pms

"My art and life has been a process of moving from darkness into light."
- PMS

Artist Preston M. Smith (PMS) found himself cross-eyed and with no depth perception as a child. This was the "lens" through which he developed his unique visual perspective of the world, which he now shares as a painter. Before focusing completely on his visual artwork, Preston spent many years developing and expanding his creative mindset by acting professionally, touring and lead singing for a punk/ska band, and writing two novels as well as a collection of poetry and original paintings. All of this experience fed into his ability to access his creative voice and communicate his own experience. Over the years, Preston’s artwork has transitioned from moody pop surrealist paintings into vibrantly colorful, tactile, highly textured and almost "edible" abstract works. His mantra for his abstract work is "color, texture, beauty and decay", and his work and life have been an expression of moving from darkness into light. Preston’s work has been showcased alongside David Lynch and at the Inaugural Purple Ball for President Obama’s Inauguration in 2009, where he was commissioned to paint 12 portraits of the President. Recently, Preston is coming off of a su...

Bachelors Degree from Gonzaga University (1997 -2001): Fine Art and Theatre Arts.

Awarded Kreielsheimer Assistantship (2001): Assistant Teacher to Aritst and Professor Robert Gilmore. Focus on Painting and Drawing Classes.

2021

"Spectrum Gestalt 8", bG Gallery, 3009 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405 , Airom Bleicher, Curator.

"Pop Culture & Trashy", Shockboxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA. Michael Collins, director.

2020

"LA Art Show 2020", bG Gallery Booth, Circular Art, LA Art Show, Modern + Contemporary, Los Angeles Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA, bG Gallery and Airom Bleicher, Curator.

2019

Solo exhibition, "Playtime Is Over?", Shockboxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA. Michael Collins, director and owner.

"Spectrum Gestalt 6", bG Gallery, 3009 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90405 , Airom Bleicher, Curator.

"Dumpster Fire", Shockboxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA. Michael Collins, director and owner.

"LA Art Show 2019", bG Gallery Booth, Circular Art, LA Art Show, Modern + Contemporary, Los Angeles Convention Center, Downtown Los Angeles, CA, bG Gallery and Airom Bleicher, Curator.

2018

"Usual Suspects", Shockboxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA. Michael Collins, owner.

"Stripes", BG Gallery, 3009 Ocean Park Blvd, Santa Monica CA 90405, Airom Bleicher, owner.

"Naked As A Daisy", Shockboxx Project Gallery, Hermosa Beach, CA. Michael Collins and Laura Schuler, directors and owners.

"David Bowie Tri...