Venezuela, b. 1962
Roxa Smith is a Venezuelan American artist whose color-filled work renders the decorative patterns, furnishings and views from inside places that represent her honor of family and history, and the love she feels for home and culture. With North American roots dating back to the Mayflower combined with her South American bloodline, her work explores the paradox of belonging and not belonging, the layers of identity bridging her southern and northern dual heritage, and the sense of isolation she has experienced. After years as a California-based plein air landscape painter, Smith moved to New York City, inspiring a new focus on interiors that often lead the eye to outward views. She channels her memories, observations and sensibilities related to current events, art history, culture, access, luxury, class, safety, freedom and nature into colorfully dense renderings of living spaces and iconic locations that communicate on multiple levels.