2011
Despite his rising status in the art world, Josh Smith leads a humble life. He doesn't even have his own apartment. He sleeps at his girlfriend's place or in his New York studio. "If you have an apartment, then art is a job you have to go to," he explained recently. "But if you don't, then art is your life."
For six weeks Mr Smith's studio was in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he worked to fill the 9,800-square-foot Brant Foundation Art Study Centre. His exhibition "The American Dream" opened on May 7th. Peter Brant, a media magnate and art collector (pictured top right with Mr Smith), opened the centre two years ago as an appointment-only space for new art, and he gave Mr Smith free reign. "We consider Josh to be one of the most talented and interesting artists around today," he said.
"It's kind of the biggest show I've ever done," offered Mr Smith, adding that it was a challenge to fill such a large space. He received some guidance from Julian Schnabel and Urs Fischer, two artists who have exhibited at the Brant centre, but Mr Smith is still recovering from the task of filling such a large space. "I may never even do another show this big again."