Jeffrey Smart (1921-2013), artist, was born in Adelaide. After studying in Paris, first at the Académie Montmarte under Fernand Léger and later at La Grande Chaumière, he developed a hyper-real style with suggestions of surrealism. Over many decades, his paintings explored images of people dwarfed by the strong, simple shapes of man-made structures in urban environments. He painted several self-portraits; this drawing relates to a small one included in Philip Bacon’s highly successful 2001 exhibition of the artist’s paintings. From 1963, Smart lived in Arezzo, Tuscany. In 1996, he published Not Quite Straight - A Memoir, a vivid series of snapshots of his transformation from Adelaide art teacher to successful artist and Tuscan signore. Remaining lucid, he kept painting almost until the end of his life.
Collection: National Portrait Gallery
Gift of the Margaret Olley Art Trust 2002
© Estate of Jeffrey Smart
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