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Mark T Smith
Gallery On Greene is pleased to represent
Mark T Smith.
Click on
an image for a larger view.
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Angel Rabbit
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Bacon Hires |
Guitar
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Black Mermaid
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Black Nude
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Space Bull |
Horse
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Mermaid and
Bull |
More Images |
He has hand-painted Chrysler's PT Cruiser, for Operation
Smile in conjunction with a show at The Gallery on Greene. Mark T.
Smith has created an ad for Absolut Vodka and updated Taco Bell's
image. His artwork is collected by such celebrities as comedian Jay
Leno, pop star Elton John and singer Neil Diamond.
Now Mark T. Smith, who divides his time between Washington and
Miami, has become one of 10 "official" Olympic artists chosen to
create pieces to commemorate the 2008 summer games in Beijing. A
series of his colorful paintings and drawings will be reproduced as
limited-edition prints, posters and souvenirs to raise money for the
American athletes competing this August.
"I've never done a piece before that will be seen by people from
every country in the world," the 40-year-old artist says during a
recent interview at his Penn Quarter condo. "It's really exciting."
In mid-January, Mr. Smith was selected by Jack Scharr, owner and
president of Fine Art Ltd. in Chesterfield, Mo., who has
commissioned art to represent the U.S. Olympics team since 1987. "We
were trying to reach out to new artists who could represent China in
a modern image," Mr. Scharr says. "His work is very colorful and
appeals to the youth of =
America and the world."
Mr. Scharr encouraged Mr. Smith and the nine other "official"
artists "to bring a lot of China into the art because it's the first
time the games are being held in China." So, instead of depicting a
sports theme, Mr. Smith pictured a stylized dragon blowing flames
onto the top of the Olympic torch. The imaginary blue beast, a
Chinese symbol of power, is shown on a background of red, a color
associated with good luck, prosperity and happiness.
Although intended as a playful interpretation of Chinese culture,
the painting of the fire-breathing dragon has taken on an ominous
vibe as Chinese authorities continue to crack down on protesters in
Tibet and Beijing. It might well symbolize China's efforts to keep
the Olympics alive in the face of growing criticism - including
numerous protests this week in this country and Europe during the
torch relay - of its military actions against dissidents.
"I'm being called a lot to talk about the situation," says Mr.
Smith, who recently has aired his views on local radio and TV shows.
"I've come down on the side of the athletes because, as somebody who
has spent [his] entire life perfecting an artistic pursuit, I
understand how much discipline and sacrifice it takes for them to
train and compete. For the athletes to be used as political pawns in
all this and deny them the opportunity to compete would be a shame."
Mr. Smith says he believes any boycotting of the games is a bad
idea. "That would take the media pressure off the Chinese and would
isolate them," he says. "We have to engage them. That's not to say
they are going to do exactly what we think is right, but our actions
aren't exactly in concert with the rest of the world, either."
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Sunning |
Tet A Tet |
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