John Smith

John Smith (b. 1952, Walthamstow, London, UK) lives and works in London. Smith studied at North-East London Polytechnic and the Royal College of Art, after which he became an active member of the London Filmmakers Co-op. Inspired in his formative years by conceptual art and structural film, but also fascinated by the immersive power of narrative and the spoken word, he has developed an extensive body of work that subverts the perceived boundaries between documentary and fiction, representation and abstraction. Often rooted in everyday life, his meticulously crafted films playfully explore and expose the language of cinema.

Since 1972 Smith has made over sixty film, video and installation works that have been shown in galleries and independent cinemas around the world, with major prizes at many international film festivals. He received a Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Artists in 2011, and in 2013 was the winner of Film London’s Jarman Award.

Solo exhibitions include John Smith, Secession, Vienna, Austria (2025), Being John Smith, part of CONDO London with Tanya Leighton, Kate MacGarry, London (2025); Being John Smith: Introspective (1972 – 2022), The Institute of Contemporary Arts (ICA), London (2022); John Smith: Waldeinsamkeit, Kunstmuseum Magdeburg, Germany (2022); Cornubian Arts & Science Trust, Cornwall, UK (2020); Wolverhampton Art Gallery, UK (2016); Vita Kuben, Umea, Sweden (2015); Centre d’Art Contemporain de Noisy-le-Sec, Paris, France (2015); Museum of Contemporary Art, Leipzig, Germany (2015); Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporanea, Lisbon, Portugal (2013); Kestnergesellschaft, Hanover, Germany (2012); Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, USA (2011) and Ikon Gallery, Birmingham, UK (2006). Smith’s work is included in numerous public collections including Tate, Arts Council England, MoMA New York, FRAC Île de France, Kunstmuseum Magdeburg and Muzeum Sztuki, Lodz.