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Untitled (Cocked), 2024
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Untitled (Diamond Eye), 2024
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Untitled (Hunk), 2024
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Untitled (Premonition), 2024
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Untitled (Three Beauties), 2024
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Portrait d'une tragédienne (after Cocteau), 2023
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Untitled (Anguish), 2023
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Untitled (Mercury), 2023
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Untitled (Hercules), 2022
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Untitled (Cocteau Ceiling), 2021
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Untitled (Nuclear), 2021
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Untitled (Pin-up), 2021
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Escapism, 2020
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Untitled (Amazon), 2020
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Untitled (Lockdown Boys), 2020
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Untitled (Actress), 2019
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Untitled (Moon), 2019
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Untitled (Phone Sex), 2019
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Untitled (Draag), 2018
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Untitled (Teen Heartthrob), 2018
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Untitled (Boxer), 2017
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Untitled (Third Eye), 2017
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Untitled (Facelift), 2016
Born and raised in the coastal city of Gqeberha, South Africa, Christopher Smith (b. 1994) emerged as a luminary in the world of art from the confines of his bedroom.
From a young age, Smith’s artistic inclinations manifested, fuelled by a fascination with
fantasy ignited by horror and science fiction films. These early influences laid the foundation
for his creative journey, as he embarked on a path of self-discovery through photography.
Armed with nothing more than a cell phone, a teenage Smith began capturing self-portraits,
transforming his bedroom into a stage for his artistic visions.
His journey of self-discovery paralleled his own coming out, a pivotal moment that marked a
newfound sense of liberation and in 2016, Smith made his debut on Instagram under the
moniker @mechrissmith. What began as a personal exploration soon blossomed into a
platform for artistic expression. With each photograph, Smith transcends the confines of his
reality, embodying characters that range from the epitome of elegance to the depths of
brutality mined from a myriad of references, from fashion and art history to cinema and
images of war.
Smith’s creative process is as meticulous as it is imaginative, as he crafts every image by
himself, from art direction, costume, hair and makeup, to set design; light, photography and,
ultimately, as the subject in front of the camera. Despite the constraints of his surroundings,
he employs resourcefulness and ingenuity to bring his visions to life, often relying on
makeshift props and minimal equipment.
Through his work, Smith challenges perceptions and provokes introspection, inviting viewers
to confront the complexities of beauty, sexuality, gender-norms and violence. For Smith, art
is more than self-expression—it’s a journey of self-discovery, a testament to the power of
imagination, and a celebration of the boundless possibilities of restless creativity.
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Christopher Smith's Surreal Self-Portraiture
Kanika Agarwal, A Magazine Curated By, June 25, 2021 -
Christopher Smith: self-portrait en travesti
Oleg Mitrofanov, Vogue Italy Magazine, March 11, 2020 -
A Photographer’s Elaborate Transformations in His Childhood Bedroom
Eren Orbey, The New Yorker, July 18, 2019 -
Chris Smith's self-portraits: 'I don’t recognise the person in my work'
Alex Peters, Dazed Digital, October 24, 2018 -
The Eternal Power of Fear
Tim Blanks, Another Man Magazine, May 30, 2018