Towards Understanding: The Art of Graham Smith

28 March – 11 May 2025

Graham Smith Earth and Sky (Final) 3   2022 lithograph

Towards Understanding: The Art of Graham Smith  is a major retrospective exhibition by Ilford-based artist, Graham Smith. The retrospective will take visitors on a chronological journey through the artistic evolution of the artist who primarily works in abstract painting.  

Smith is known for his work in cubism, modernism and constructivism and the exhibition will highlight how his style and techniques have developed over time. Through his bold use of colour and form, viewers are invited to engage with the interpretative nature of Smith’s work. The art in Smith’s whimsical worlds depict organic forms such as depictions of enchanted gardens and landscapes, as well as detours towards more figurative elements that ground the overall exhibition.

Towards Understanding will delve into Smith's exploration of abstract art over the many years he has been painting, encouraging viewers to engage with the underlying themes and techniques that define his oeuvre. The exhibition aims to highlight this interpretative nature of abstract art by presenting the works in a way that encourages personal connections. By organising the artworks into a timeline of Smith’s practice the audience can explore different facets of his artistic journey and find their own meanings within his creations.

Graham Smith Biography

Graham Smith has produced work continuously over six decades since his early formal training in painting and drawing during the 1950s and 60s. After studying painting at Wellington Polytechnic College, New Zealand (1957 – 1961), Graham attended Kunstschule Destrad, Linz, Austria (1961 – 1963). Returning to New Zealand in 1964, he taught drawing, painting and design at Wellington Polytechnic until moving to Sydney, Australia in 1977.

During the late 1970s and 80s Graham taught drawing at the University of Technology in  Sydney while continuing to paint and exhibit in commercial galleries in Sydney and Melbourne. During this time Graham’s work was purchased by the Australian Art Bank, a series of prints was commissioned by Westpac Banking Corporation, and many works were sold to private collectors in Australia and overseas. In the mid – late 1980s Graham established and ran a successful fashion design and manufacturing business, retailing clothing in Australia and New Zealand. He returned to painting full-time in the 1990s and also began working with clay to create ceramic sculptures.

Graham has lived in the Mid-Western Region, NSW for over 30 years. He has taught private painting and drawing classes in Mudgee for over 10 years and now paints and works with clay in his Mudgee and Ilford studios.