Lenard Smith is a first generation Ghanian-American artist currently living and working in Los Angeles, California. His recent studio practice relies on a deep investigation into ways of seeing. Bringing together intimate personal belongings and found objects, Smith’s sculptural arrangements offer new interpretations of disparate items.

“I am lured into a world of inventions and machines by their shape, when taken apart and as a whole,” Smith explains. “Trying to understand how pieces and parts are as sacred on their own as they may be when constructed together is my ode to common things. In the process of examining every detail, I create tactile experiences within each composition by leaving a trace of my hand on a variety of surfaces and textures. I become curious to see if by making art in this way, I might be able to shift connotations given to readymade objects by repositioning them into new contexts that allow for deep psychological experiences; experiences that allow the past to resonate while echoing into the present.”

Smith’s work is currently featured in the ‘Archive Machines’ online exhibition at the Los Angeles Municipal Gallery. Check it out here, through November 1st.

See more from “Fortuitous Encounter” below!