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“The work of Sophy Smith attempts to capture the movement of time and space in 21st century London, while acknowledging the impossibility of such a task. In her new work, layered images of buildings, rooms and landscapes create a spiritual space – boundless through its endless and impenetrable form.
“My imagination is flooded by my own reality, and that of the people around me. My work as a healer allows me to go beyond my perception of the world, unravelling as many layers as those I form on canvas. With a visceral need to escape everyday sensations, I let the unconscious be my guide.
The process is dichotomous: I need to find solace while revelling in the presence of form. These overlapping emotions adhere to both the real and the illusory. They find expression through work that is characterized by a strong palette and dynamic brush strokes. I want the viewer to live for a brief moment in the painting. I want my work to appear unfinished, to resonate with life, with a quality of simply existing.”
Sophy Smith graduated from Chelsea College of Art in 2005 with a BA Honours in Fine Art and Theory.
Since then, she has been working from her studio in Chelsea as both an artist and a healer, generating an increasing demand for portraits, abstract paintings and private readings.
In the past few years she has been commissioned to create artworks for musicians and designers, and in 2007 EMI asked her to paint a series of large-scale portraits for a special charity auction held in London. Among the commissions that Sophy has worked on, are portraits of some well known celebrities.
This summer Sophy has had four exhibitions in London, including a group show at Chelsea Future Space in October (www.chelseafuturespace.org/bmsu/) and has two upcoming shows in November and December. Sophy has published a booklet to coincide with the exhibition Blow MY Skirt Up, which includes poems by Charlie Ottley. The booklet is entitled ‘Differentiated Loner’. Copies of this booklet can be obtained from the artist.
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