Sable Elyse Smith: Unmasking the Uncomfortable Realities of Visual Seduction
By Shameka Sawyer, Sunkissed Journalist
In the realm of contemporary art, Sable Elyse Smith is a visionary provocateur, expertly toying with the notion of visual seduction. However, her intentions are far from innocent. “I am interested in visual seduction,” she reveals, “but I’m more interested in what happens once the viewer gets there, which is intense and sometimes uncomfortable. It’s not about the visual pleasure anymore, it’s up to the audience.”
Smith’s groundbreaking work transcends conventional boundaries and mediums, encompassing sculpture, photography, and her captivating “Coloring Book” series. Her art challenges the status quo, boldly beckoning viewers to grapple with the intricate connections between violence and power that silently permeate our world. Yet, her vocabulary, initially appearing benign and even enjoyable, serves as a cunning vehicle for contemplation. “Language can be the first domino in a certain kind of violence being perpetuated,” she asserts. Her art extends an invitation—a ticket to a transformative journey where the price is paid in introspection.
Having left an indelible mark through group exhibitions at renowned institutions like the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the New Museum, the High Line, and numerous others, Smith’s artistic prowess is currently on full display in her inaugural solo exhibition with Regen Projects, aptly titled “FAIR GROUNDS,” in the vibrant city of Los Angeles.
One of the sculptures featured in the show evokes memories of a striking Ferris wheel she constructed for the 2022 Whitney Biennial—a towering, jet-black structure that exudes both playfulness and a sense of foreboding. “It was a reference to the carnival or the traveling fair,” explains Smith. She delves into the allure created by amusements, a realm where many actions are deemed permissible merely because it falls under the guise of entertainment.
Smith’s artistic narrative delves into the intertwined relationship between violence and power. Through her unconventional vocabulary, which initially appears harmless, she urges viewers to question societal norms. “Violence has always been a subject,” she emphasizes. “I’m trying to point at it in ways that are not immediately obvious.”
For Smith, the show at Regen Projects carries a sense of homecoming. Having spent her formative years in various parts of Southern California, including Inglewood, Pasadena, and Studio City, this exhibition is a return to her artistic roots. Her journey in art began when she earned her BA in 2011 from Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. However, it was during her time in London, where she had her first encounters with contemporary art at the Tate Modern, that she had a pivotal artistic awakening. “I first got introduced to Kara Walker,” she reminisces, “I think that was my art education.”
Her academic journey continued with an MFA at Parsons in New York, an experience she humorously summarizes as “I got the piece of paper.” Since 2020, Smith has been a guiding force in the visual arts program at Columbia University. Here, she observes a fascinating shift in her students’ focus—towards the allure of “celebrity and visibility,” rather than the intricate and elusive questions that her own work grapples with.
Today, Smith finds herself with more room to navigate these profound questions outside the confines of a solo show. After spending 12 transformative years in New York, primarily in the vibrant district of Harlem, she made a bold move to New Jersey. This change in scenery, coupled with her relentless exploration of broader ideas, has afforded her fresh perspectives. “It’s just more space, a different quality of life,” she reflects, appreciating the room to explore the interconnectedness of events that often escape our notice. “Things that happen are interwoven in different ways that we’re not always privy to,” she muses. “I’m really interested in pulling out and addressing that kind of networked life. I started to see these things… And more people need to see them.”
“FAIR GROUNDS,” Sable Elyse Smith’s mesmerizing and thought-provoking exhibition, is currently on display at Regen Projects in Los Angeles until October 26, 2023. As her art continues to challenge, inspire, and confront, Smith’s journey of exploration and transformation promises to captivate audiences worldwide.
