“The cosmos abound with an intricate tapestry of form and hue, where the boundless potentialities of existence manifest themselves through the transcendent medium of art upon the canvas.”
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Holbrook Smith, born in late 1980s Chicago, shaped his upbringing in the scenic surroundings of Laguna Beach, California, and embraced a decade-long sojourn in Europe. With a profound interest in continental philosophy, he pursued studies at both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 2015, Holbrook co-founded the Peace Museum Vienna. Transitioning to New York City in 2020, he showcased his artistic talent by creating a series of murals on the Bowery's plywood. Currently, he resides and works in Miami Beach, where his studio serves as the nexus of his professional and personal pursuits.
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The work of Holbrook Smith presents a complex philosophical puzzle, with layers that often elude instant comprehension, mirroring the intricacies of the human experience. Delving into the creative process, the artist selectively illuminates facets he finds resonant, deftly excising elements that fail to harmonize. The act of ceasing at a central point is laden with profound implications, a delicate balance between expression and the risk of undermining the entire artistic effort. This deliberate navigation of instincts imbues the work with a fervent intensity, seeking to articulate on a subconscious plane. Materials, chosen with a discerning eye, become a medium of conversation between artist and creation. Each painting stands as a singular entity, an unrepeatable testament to the artist's refusal to duplicate his own expressions. Language, interwoven with the subconscious, takes on a material form, a biographical exploration etched into the canvas. Words emerge as integral components, not just descriptors but entities to be molded and materialized. At the heart of this artistic philosophy lies an engagement with the intricacies of the human condition. The artist immerses themselves in the tapestry of daily life, extracting meaning from the profound tapestry of human existence. The juxtaposition of positive and negative, the ascent and descent in the artist's checkerboard of symbolism, reflects the dichotomies inherent in our attempts to impose order upon a fundamentally chaotic reality. This chaos, driven by instinct and impulsivity, finds manifestation in the structural composition of select artworks, underscoring the perpetual tension between our yearning for order and the inherent disorderliness of existence.
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Articles:
'Public Art as Protest' debuts at Howl! Happening
Crooks stole Bowery murals but not their spirit
On the Bowery, plywood becomes a ‘free outdoor gallery’
Plywood muralists are ‘screwed’ as thieves, merchants, landlords take artworks
'Public Art as Protest' debuts at Howl! Happening
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