Aaron Smith

b. 1964, Fremont, CA

Captivated by Victorian- and Edwardian-era representations of ideal masculinity, Aaron Smith explores ideas of strength and vulnerability in the male image. Through his use of vibrant colors, lively brushstrokes, and generously applied oil paint, Smith contradicts the stoic bravado embodied by men in portraits from 18th- and early 19th-century England. He also animates still life paintings and depictions of statues with a loose hand and otherworldly hues. The artist attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, where he is now Associate Chair. He was the first artist in residence at the J. Paul Getty Museum.