Darden Smith’s multi-media practice encompasses songs, photography, drawing, illustration, video, printmaking, essays and performance. Moving between and combining mediums allows a broader horizon in which to work. His music is rooted in the Texas songwriting traditions, and as such, the power of story, rhythm and a sense of place is prevalent in all his work. In his mind, a piece, whether it’s a song, drawing, photograph or a print, isn’t finished until it sings.
Smith's visual work is influenced by cartoons, line drawings, Karl Blossfeldt’s nature photography, Cy Twombly’s paintings, the watercolors of Francesco Clementi and Rory McEwan, his quite extensive stamp collection, and what he calls rhythmic visual dissonance – the objects and repeated patterns of our lives. He’s not interested in making an exact replica of what he sees because, as he says, “we already have that.”
As a musician and songwriter, he has released 17 full length albums and toured extensively in the US, UK and Europe. He has composed music for film, TV and dance/theater. Grand Motion, a full evening symphonic work, was commissioned by the Austin Symphony in 1999.
The Habit of Noticing: Using Creativity to Make a Life (and a Living), his first book, was published in 2018. The expansive project Western Skies (2022) encompasses two albums (music and spoken word); a book of photographs, lyrics and writings; lithographs; drawings, video and performance.
Darden's artwork is in private and corporate collections in the US, UK and Europe, as well as the Library of Congress’ Prints and Photographs Collection.
Gallery Exhibitions and Installations:
2024
- Affordable Art Fair - Austin, TX; Group Exhibition
- Western Skies: Prints and Drawings - Mix Haus Gallery, Comfort, TX; Solo Exhibition
- Sonder: Group Show - Davis Gallery, Austin, TX; Group Exhibition
2023
- Western Skies: Prints and Drawings - Davis Gallery, Austin, TX; Solo Exhibition
- Riot Series - Lithograph Monoprints; Featured Artist at PrintAUSTIN's PrintEXPO, February, 2023
- Western Skies Lithographs – Pratt's Books, Graham, TX; Solo Exhibition
- Holiday Show - Davis Gallery, Austin, TX; Group Exhibition
2022
- Western Skies Lithographs - Redbud Gallery, Houston, TX; Solo Exhibition
- Lucky Strike purchased by The Library of Congress Prints and Drawings Collection
- Western Skies Lithographs - 4th Street Gallery, Blanco, TX; Solo Exhibition
2020
- Flatbed Redux – Flatbed Gallery, Austin, TX; Group Exhibition
- Drawings - Mark Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX; Solo Exhibition
2019
- What I See When I See You; Installation, Permanent Collection of Facebook/Meta
2018
- The Habit of Noticing – Bale Creek Allen Gallery, Austin, TX; Solo Exhibition
Residencies
2024 - Willow House, Terlingua, TX
2023 - Airlie Estates, Airlie, UK
2021 - Marfa Open, Marfa, TX