Sable Elyse Smith: And Blue in a Decade Where It Finally Means Sky

Sable Elyse Smith is a New York-based artist who uses video, sculpture, photography, and text-based artworks to draw attention to American systems of inequity. This first major monograph dedicated to her work includes over 140 color images and texts by Horace Ballard, Johanna Burton, Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah, and Christina Sharpe.

Format: Hardback
Length: 224 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Regen Projects

This is the first major monograph dedicated to the New York-based artist Sable Elyse Smith (born 1986). Through her wide-ranging multimedia practice, Smith elucidates how the carceral state (read America) quietly inflicts violence and is constantly reinforced by the seemingly banal: from furniture found in prison visitation rooms, to pages from state-issued children's coloring books. Included in this publication are works produced from 2015 to the present day to provide a comprehensive overview of Smith's videos, sculptures, photography, texts, and printed matter. Accompanying over 140 color images are texts by Horace Ballard (Theodore E. Stebbins Jr. Associate Curator of American Art at Harvard Art Museums), Johanna Burton (Executive Director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles), Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah (author of Friday Black), and Christina Sharpe (writer, professor, and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Black Studies in the Humanities at York University).

Smith's work draws attention to American systems of inequity, highlighting the ways in which the carceral state perpetuates violence and reinforces societal norms through seemingly mundane objects and practices. Through her multimedia practice, she explores the intersection of race, gender, and class in American society, challenging the dominant narratives and exposing the hidden realities of the carceral system.

One of the key themes in Smith's work is the use of color and texture. She employs vibrant colors and intricate patterns to create visually arresting compositions that evoke a sense of discomfort and unease. By incorporating these elements, Smith creates a powerful commentary on the experiences of marginalized communities and the systemic injustices they face.

In addition to her multimedia practice, Smith also engages with the public through public art installations and interventions. Her work has been exhibited in galleries and museums around the world, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Tate Modern in London, and the Centre Pompidou in Paris. Through these exhibitions, Smith has gained a global audience and has been recognized for her powerful and thought-provoking work.

Overall, Sable Elyse Smith's work is a powerful and thought-provoking exploration of American systems of inequity and the carceral state. Through her multimedia practice, she challenges the dominant narratives and exposes the hidden realities of the carceral system. Her use of color and texture, as well as her public art installations and interventions, make her a significant voice in contemporary art and social justice.

Weight: 898g
Dimension: 246 x 166 x 22 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781735555713