FRANS SMIT
Artist’s Statement
His artist statement centers on the disruption of traditional portraiture, where he reinterprets 13th to 17th-century European masterpieces with a contemporary, often "absurd" twist. Working predominantly in oils, Smit layers realistically rendered figures with bold, expressive elements like graffiti, motion painting, and neon materials to create a new visual language that bridges the past and the future. His intent is to pull the viewer into an environment of "drama and unease," challenging historical narratives through visceral textures and deliberate, sometimes destructive, adjustments to classic refinements like facial features.
Biography
Frans Smit has made a significant impact on the art world with his distinctive portraits and still-life paintings. He approaches compositions with an intense focus, resulting in deeply visceral works. Bold brushstrokes, multiple layers of paint, surprising colour palettes, and deliberate adjustments to traditional refinements, such as facial features, Frans challenges the narrative of historical portraiture and figurative expression. Smit’s paintings captivate and pull in the viewer with rich tones, textures, and glossy oils – adding a sense of drama and unease to the canvas.
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