Bob and Roberta Smith
Born 1963 London – Lives and works in London and Surrey Heath
Rather than tiptoe the line between art and activism, Bob and Roberta Smith is politically engaged through his manifesto: to reactivate art in the education system. Bob and Roberta Smith is one man whose real name is Patrick Brill. His pseudonym began in New York and received the addition of his sister’s name back in London. Smith his a Masters degree from Goldsmiths University London, but his most recognizable works were developed in New York where he trained as a sign painter.
Smith’s two best known works, Make Art Not War (1997), part of the Tate Collection and Letter to Michael Grove (2011), shown at the Royal Academy’s 2014 summer show, are literally signs pointing to the powerful potential he sees in art. Art is a politically effective method for expressing our perception of peace, and is therefore an important tool of democracy. In 2013, Smith launched an unofficial political party, Art Party, concerned with the government’s role in the near vilification of teaching art in schools. The following year, in collaboration with the filmmaker Tim Newton, he produced Art Party the Movie in which Smith satirized Michael Grove’s policies as the Conservative Education Secretary. Smith’s campaign for progressive art education and against Michael Grove’s policies was not limited to signs of protest or political satire. He is running against Grove in the next general election in Surrey Heath.
Smith’s works have been exhibited at Sommerset House (2012), the Institute of Contemporary Art, London (2012), Red gallery, Beijing (2012), Tate Britain (2010), on the Hayward façade (2010), and Whitechapel Art Gallery (2009). He was also recently elected a Royal Academician. Smith’s most recent efforts are toward an artist community with the goal of resident programs, talks, concerts, exhibitions and a creative writing center.
Born 1963 London – Lives and works in London and Surrey Heath
Rather than tiptoe the line between art and activism, Bob and Roberta Smith is politically engaged through his manifesto: to reactivate art in the education system. Bob and Roberta Smith is one man whose real name is Patrick Brill. His pseudonym began in New York and received the addition of his sister’s name back in London. Smith his a Masters degree from Goldsmiths University London, but his most recognizable works were developed in New York where he trained as a sign painter.
Smith’s two best known works, Make Art Not War (1997), part of the Tate Collection and Letter to Michael Grove (2011), shown at the Royal Academy’s 2014 summer show, are literally signs pointing to the powerful potential he sees in art. Art is a politically effective method for expressing our perception of peace, and is therefore an important tool of democracy. In 2013, Smith launched an unofficial political party, Art Party, concerned with the government’s role in the near vilification of teaching art in schools. The following year, in collaboration with the filmmaker Tim Newton, he produced Art Party the Movie in which Smith satirized Michael Grove’s policies as the Conservative Education Secretary. Smith’s campaign for progressive art education and against Michael Grove’s policies was not limited to signs of protest or political satire. He is running against Grove in the next general election in Surrey Heath.
Smith’s works have been exhibited at Sommerset House (2012), the Institute of Contemporary Art, London (2012), Red gallery, Beijing (2012), Tate Britain (2010), on the Hayward façade (2010), and Whitechapel Art Gallery (2009). He was also recently elected a Royal Academician. Smith’s most recent efforts are toward an artist community with the goal of resident programs, talks, concerts, exhibitions and a creative writing center.