John Smith

John Smith’s artistic work spans film, video, and installation, offering a sophisticated reimagining of everyday life that blurs the line between documentary and fiction. With a practice deeply rooted in conceptual art and structural film, he constructs meticulously composed visual narratives that reveal the hidden mechanics of cinema and perception. Often beginning with familiar, seemingly mundane subjects—a water tower, discolorations on a ceiling, or the texture of a windowpane—Smith transforms these observations into layered audiovisual experiences. His works frequently combine wry humor with rigorous formal experimentation, inviting viewers to question the nature of storytelling and the relationship between image, sound, and meaning. Rather than aiming for straightforward realism, Smith embraces the inherent artifice of filmmaking, using its constructed nature to heighten awareness of how narratives are shaped. Through this approach, his work transforms ordinary moments into poetic, philosophical meditations on time, perception, and the act of looking. His contribution to moving image practice continues to influence generations of artists, filmmakers, and audiences. ...

Kate MacGarry Gallery, established in 2002, is a contemporary art gallery located in East London at 27 Old Nichol Street, within a space designed by British architect Tony Fretton. Over the years, the gallery has expanded its representation to include 25 emerging and established artists, as well as two artist estates. Many of the gallery's represented artists had their first commercial solo exhibitions at Kate MacGarry and have gone on to achieve international success. Their works have been showcased at leading institutions worldwide, including MoMA, Documenta, the Venice Biennale, Tate, MCA Chicago, Prada Foundation, The Walker Art Center, Barbican, New Museum, Palais de Tokyo, Kunstverein Hamburg, and Kettle's Yard, among others. ...