Art Basel Miami Beach featured 277 galleries from around the world. The art market is tepid at the moment and so the dealers all put together booths that were even higher quality than usual. Competition was fierce but many gallerists did quite well despite the difficult and uncertain economic climate.
Paul Anthony Smith invites the viewer in with vibrant colors and keeps us out with an imposing fence motif that envelops the painting. The fence is printed and then painted over in gestural marks and strong colors for the flora. The flatness of the sky is striking and Smith has also continued to emphasize the barrier in certain parts of the canvas. We are privy to the view but not granted entry. The horizontal composition is also effective in creating the feeling of looking at a landscape with a yearning to enter. The setting is that of a tropical gated area, perhaps referencing the artist’s native Jamaica. There are hints of Monet and Hockney; however, Smith is a titan in his own right.
