Since 2000, Smith’s work has featured in more than 100 exhibitions. Notable among them are: Know My Name, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 2020; Rhythm Sequence, UNSW Galleries, Sydney, 2019; Superposition of three types, Artspace, Sydney, 2017; Painting. More Painting, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, 2016; Pittsburgh Biennial, Pittsburgh Centre for the Arts, Pittsburgh, 2014; Forcefields, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, 2014; Case Study: Gemma Smith Considers the Work of Margo Lewers, Penrith Regional Gallery, Sydney, 2011; Cubism & Australian Art, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, 2009; Gemma Smith: Entanglement Factor, Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne 2009; Contemporary Australia: Optimism, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, 2008; Primavera, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia, Sydney, 2008.
Smith has exhibited regularly with Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, since 2006; with Milani Gallery, Brisbane from 2008; and Starkwhite, Auckland, beginning 2020.
Smith’s work is held in museum, corporate and private collections, including those of the National Gallery of Australia, Canberra; Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney; Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney; Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art, Brisbane; Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide; Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth; Queensland College of Art and Griffith Artworks, Brisbane; Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane; University of Queensland, Brisbane; Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne; Murdoch University, Perth; Deakin University, Melbourne; Artbank, Sydney; KPMG, Brisbane; Gaden’s Lawyers, Brisbane; QIC, Brisbane; and UBS, Sydney.
Smith has produced several public artworks, including Bourke Street Tangle Painting, Sydney, 2020; Triple Tangle, Museum of Contemporary Art Australia Foyer Commission, 2018; Collision and Improvisation (ceiling), 2012, Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, Brisbane; and Synchro (Peach/Red Oxide), 2010, Brisbane Airport.
Smith was born in Sydney and based there until 2004; in Brisbane from 2004 to 2012; and in Pittsburgh, United States, from 2012 to 2014. Smith studied at Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney; and Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane. She currently lives and works in Sydney.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2023
On, Off, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2021
Open Forever, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2020
Thin Air, Starkwhite, Auckland, NZ
Noon, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Ticks and Tones, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2019
Gemma Smith: Rhythm Sequence, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
Gemma Smith: Rhythm Sequence, UNSW Galleries, Sydney, AU
2018
Goldens, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2017
Radiant Greige, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Paintings, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2015
Adjacent Possible, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Weight and Waver, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2014
PA Paintings, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2013
Gemma Smith, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2011
Tangle Paintings, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Gemma Smith, Turner Gallery, Perth, AU
2010
Collision and Improvisation, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, AU
Gemma Smith, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Melbourne Art Fair, Melbourne, AU
Sudden Double, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2009
Entanglement Factor, Gertrude Street Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne, AU
2008
Gemma Smith, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
New Paintings & Sculptures, Milani Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2006
Gemma Smith, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Paintings and Adaptables, Metro Arts, Brisbane, AU
2004
Gemma Smith, The Farm Space, Brisbane, AU 2003
Gemma Smith, MOP Projects, Sydney, AU
2002
A Texta in the Briefcase, Briefcase Gallery, Sydney, AU
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2022-23
Whispering Gums, Starkwhite, Queenstown, NZ
Bright, Goulburn Regional Art Gallery, Goulburn, AU
2022
Hunky Dory, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2021-22
Wall Drawings, Mornington Peninsula Regional Gallery, Mornington, AU
2021
Almost, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2020
Annexe, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Apparition, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Rondo, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Silver Jubilee, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2019
New Woman, Museum of Brisbane, Brisbane, AU
Group Show 39, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2018
Sydney Contemporary, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2017
Superposition of three types, Artspace, Sydney, AU
Primavera at 25: MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
2016
Painting. More Painting, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, Melbourne, AU
Another Green World, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
2015
Everything and Nothing, Sarah Cottier Gallery, Sydney, AU
Quarternary, QUT Art Museum, Brisbane, AU
2014
Pittsburgh Biennial, Pittsburgh Centre for the Arts, Pittsburgh, US
Certain Abstract Things from the Griffith University Art Collection, Griffith University Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
Forcefields, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
2013
AfterPrima PostVera, Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney, AU
2012
Lightness & Gravity: Contemporary Works from the Collection, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
Deep Space: new acquisitions from the Australian Art Collection, Art Gallery of South Australia, Adelaide, AU
Shifting Geometries, Embassy of Australia, Washington, US
Volume One: MCA Collection, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
2011
Case Study: Gemma Smith Considers the Work of Margo Lewers, Penrith Regional Gallery, Sydney, AU
New Psychedelia, University Art Museum, University of Queensland, Brisbane, AU
2010
An Oeurve Both Abundant and Diverse, Sydney College of the Arts, University of Sydney, AU
Twenty Twenty, UTS Gallery, Sydney, AU
2009
Cubism & Australian Art, Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne, AU
MCA Collection: New Acquisitions 2009, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
2008
Primavera 2008, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
Contemporary Australia: Optimism, Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2007
All is Well that Begins Well and has no End, 80WSE, New York, US
Shoebox, Bell Street Projects, Vienna, AT
2006
Against the Amnesiac’s Lifestyle Showroom, Gertrude Contemporary Art Spaces, Melbourne, AU
Eldorado, Downtown, Adelaide, AU
2005
DEAD FAMOUS; New Australian Painting, Raw Gallery, Berlin, DE
2001
Suspended, First Draft Gallery and Australia Council for the Arts, Sydney, AU
2000
Modulations, Newspace, Sydney, AU
art as art…, Newcastle Emerging Artists Space, Newcastle, AU
1999
Gemma Smith and Philip Williams, Gallery 19, Sydney, AU
Classy, Gallery 132, Sydney, AU
1998
Everyday Episode, Gallery 132, Sydney, AU
Awards and Grants 2013
New Work Grant (Mid Career), Australia Council for the Arts, AU
2011
Turner Galleries, Artist in Residence, Perth, AU
2009
Clayton Utz Travelling Scholarship, AU
Project Grant, Arts Queensland, Brisbane, AU
2008
Moya Dyring Studio, Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Cite Internationale des arts, Paris, FR 2006
New Work Grant (Emerging), Australia Council for the Arts, AU
Project Grant, Arts Queensland, AU 2005
Metro Arts – NBC Capital Scholarship (2006), Brisbane, AU
Dame Joan Sutherland Fund Grant, American Australian Association, AU
NAVA Visual Arts and Crafts Grant, AU
Project Grant, Individual Professional Development, Arts Queensland, AU
1997
University of Sydney Alumni Scholarship (awarded for duration of degree), Sydney, AU
Chroma Art Prize, Sydney College of the Arts, Sydney, AU
COLLECTIONS
Art Gallery of New South Wales, Sydney, AU
Artbank, Sydney, AU
Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
Queensland Art Gallery, Sydney, AU
Art Gallery of Western Australia, Perth, AU
Deakin University, Victoria, AU
Murdoch University, Perth, AU
University of Queensland, Brisbane, AU
Queensland College of Art + Griffith Artworks, Brisbane, AU
Monash University Museum of Art, Melbourne, AU
PUBLIC ART PROJECTS
2013
Collaboration with the Spinifex Group for Vivid Sydney, Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney, AU
2012
Collision and Improvisation (ceiling artwork), Queen Elizabeth II Courts of Law, Brisbane, AU Architect: Architectus; Consulting Curator: Jay Younger, with Project Services – Department of Housing and Public Works, and the Department of Justice and Attorney-General; Project Management: with Cracknell and Lonergan
2010
Synchro Adaptable (Red Oxide/Peach), Brisbane Airport, Brisbane, AU. Project Manager and fabricator: Urban Art Projects (UAP)
2009
Chessboard Painting #15 and Chessboard Painting #14, 400 George, Brisbane, AU Architect: Cox Rayner; Consulting Curator and art project Manager: Jacqueline Armistead; Partners: Leighton Properties and Grosvener Australia; Builder: Theiss Australia
2007
Glass lift and corresponding list shaft/glass wall work, 333 Ann Street, Brisbane, AU
Project Manager: Romy Willing; Architect: ML Design; Partners: Devine Limited and Artworkers Alliance
2006
Around Around, McK17 Public Art Project, McKell Building, Government Architects Office, Sydney, AU
OTHER PROJECTS
2011
Rittenhouse x Gemma Smith, Sydney, AU
2009
Apres Record Covers, Future Classic, Sydney, AU
Kids: Contemporary Australia: Creating Projects for Children – Artists Perspectives, Conference: Art is for everyone: Programming for children and families in the art museum. Gallery of Modern Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2008
Scarf Edition, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
The Rug Project, Designer Rugs, Sydney, AU
2007
Look Out Teacher Program: Howard Arkley, workshop and artist talk for teachers, Queensland Art Gallery, Brisbane, AU
2004
The Running Man, Local Art #11, cover image, May 2004
2003
Terrace Flats, The Material, centre image collaboration, Local Art #4, June 2003