Lucien Smith, Whose Meteoric Rise Presaged a Diverse Second Act, Dies at 37
Bill Powers confirmed the death of the former art-market sensation, who later founded a nonprofit and backed emerging artists.
- Contemporary artist Lucien Smith died at age 37 on Monday, September 7, confirmed by longtime friend and gallerist Bill Powers. Smith gained prominence in the early 2010s for his signature 'Rain Paintings,' created using fire extinguishers to spray pigment onto massive canvases.
- Smith rose quickly as a 'market darling' after graduating from Cooper Union in 2011, earning inclusion on Forbes '30 Under 30' lists in 2013 and 2014. Critic Walter Robinson famously grouped his work with others as 'Zombie Formalism,' a reductive method that gained significant market traction.
- Smith's total auction sales exceeded $4 million in 2014, with one painting selling for $389,000. Facing market pressure, Smith later moved to Montauk, telling Hypebeast, 'Art was about money everywhere I looked. It was scary.'
- Smith founded the nonprofit Serving the People to support emerging creatives. He had recently returned to his signature style, creating new works for an exhibition titled 'Delay of Game' at Tripoli Gallery in Wainscott, New York.
- Scheduled to open September 12, the 'Delay of Game' exhibition has been postponed while Tripoli Gallery consults with his family. Skarstedt Gallery released a statement: 'We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Lucien Smith.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Lucien Smith Dies: Rising Art Star With A New Collection In The Works Was 37
Lucien Smith, the New York-based artist who became a prominent figure in the city’s downtown art scene, has died. He was 37. Details on Smith’s death and his childhood upbringing Smith’s longtime friend and gallerist, Bill Powers, confirmed his death and told ARTnews, “Lucien lives in a wordless place inside us now.” No cause of death has been released, according to New York Magazine’s Grub Street . Smith grew up in Southern California as the so…
NYC Artist Lucien Smith Dies at Age 37
Lucien Smith has sadly passed away. The contemporary artist from New York City died on Monday (September 7) at 37 […] The post NYC Artist Lucien Smith Dies at Age 37 appeared first on Just Jared - Celebrity News, Entertainment News & Photos.
Lucien Smith, influential New York artist, dies at 37
Lucien Smith, the New York artist best known for his "Rain Paintings," has died at 37.
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