Whitney Lewis-Smith

(Canadian)

snakes and ladders by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

Snakes and Ladders, 2023

4,600 CAD

the world tree by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

The World Tree, 2023

8,600 CAD

wishing you flowers, wishing you stars by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

Wishing You Flowers, Wishing You Stars, 2023

8,600 CAD

stairway to heaven by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

Stairway to Heaven, 2023

Price on Request

lavanda (heliogravure) by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

Lavanda (Heliogravure), 2023

3,550 CAD

snakes and ladders (heliogravure) by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

Snakes and Ladders (Heliogravure), 2023

1,400 CAD

the first blossoms at mercado jamaica by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

The First Blossoms at Mercado Jamaica, 2023

1,350 CAD

lavanda (heliogravure edition) by whitney lewis-smith

Whitney Lewis-Smith

Lavanda (Heliogravure Edition), 2023

Price on Request

Biography

Timeline

Whitney Lewis-Smith is a Canadian photo-based artist. Her work uses a combination of historic and modern photographic processes as a means to speak on contemporary topics, most recently discussing consumerism, commodity accessibility, and globalization’s impact on the environment. By referencing dutch golden era floral tableaus, Whitney highlights the evolution of humanity’s relationship with the planet. A painting from the 17th century displaying various flora and fauna that could never have existed together has now become a reality to almost anyone at the tap of a button. Her seemingly living moving scenes are made predominantly using insects, animals, and plants that have died, but this only becomes apparent upon close inspection. The result is a subtle tension, engaging the viewer’s fascinations and fears. Lewis-Smith challenges viewers’ distance from the ecological; her pieces evoke childlike curiosity while simultaneously directing us to consider the profound environmental changes we are giving rise to.
Lewis-Smith works predominantly in Canada. She attended the Studio Arts program at Concordia University where her focus was in painting, drawing, and sculpture. She completed her photographic education at the School of Photographic Arts: Ottawa where she is currently a full time college instructor in Studio and darkroom techniques. In 2014, Lewis-Smith was awarded a one-month production residency at the Arquetopia Foundation for the Arts in Mexico in tandem with the museum of natural history there. Her work sits in prominent private collections in Canada, the United States, England, Spain, Mexico, and Chile, as well as in the private collection of Sophie and Justin Trudeau, The Beaverbrook Art Gallery of New Brunswick, Maison Simons collection, SUMMA Contemporary Art Fair’s permanent acquisitions, and in the Ottawa City’s Public Art collections of 2011, 2013, 2014, and 2015.