IVAN SMITH

Ivan Smith (b. 1966) is a Cape Town based artist and designer whose work spans across mediums, currently with a emphasis on digital drawing deeply influenced by the vibrant aesthetics of Pop Art.

After studying Art and Design with a focus on Textile design at the Pretoria University of Technology’s Art School, he started his career in the fashion and textile industry as a knitwear designer. In 2020, after decades in the field, he transitioned to practicing as a full-time self-taught digital artist.

“I refer to myself as a traditional artist, but since 2020 my art supplies have become digital. My graphic pop art pieces are hand drawn digitally using an Apple pencil working on an iPad in Procreate. I create high resolution, highly detailed statement pieces that I present as limited-edition prints. These prints are released over various sizes and on various surfaces, but from the outset I work with the intention to be able to print high-resolution oversized artworks. I like how reverse printing on Perspex simulates the iPad surface I draw on.

By juxtaposing unrelated themes, I aim to provoke meaningful conversation around consumerism, art, fashion, religion and politics by borrowing from a variety of contradictory popular culture imagery that relates to a specific theme. I use iconography ironically, creating new context by effortlessly absorbing existing ideas and restringing them into new and autonomous artworks.

My representational work embodies a figurative style with pop art influences. Reflecting on the timeless elements of fashion, I create elegant work with an edge that incorporates both, contemporary and classic ideas of style, glamour, femininity and pop culture. Remaining loyal to my figurative subject, female portraiture by using both classic icons and imaginative, chic and playful faces. I often frame these faces with unrelated eyewear to add personality to the subject. 

Surrounding the portrait is usually a strong reference to my textile design background. Here I arrange and densely fill the canvas with a collection of objects and patterns that I like and relate to the context of the series. This also breaks up solid colours and adds visual context and interest to the background and balances colour, structure, and the composition of the work, intentionally drawing the viewer in, for them to lose themselves as they explore the camp explosion of graphic art, in the most endearing way.

Although each piece exists independently, I prefer setting out working in a cohesive series of three. This not only keeps me focused on three pieces at the same time, but it is also a way for a prospective buyer to instantly visualize the entire series together, or as two, or a single-piece shining on its own.