The life and legacy of Tony Smith

Tony Smith was a trailblazer in modern art, blending his architectural background with groundbreaking minimalist sculptures. From his early years overcoming illness to creating monumental forms that transformed public spaces, Smith’s story is an interesting one. This blog explores the key moments in his life and career, including his unexpected link to the cult classic film The Italian Job.

Tony Smith’s early childhood and education

Tony Smith was born on September 23, 1912, in South Orange, New Jersey. As a young boy, he battled tuberculosis, which led his parents to isolate him in their backyard shelter for several years to aid his recovery. During this time, Smith began constructing small models from cardboard boxes and medicine cartons, which were the early signs of his future in sculpture.

After regaining his health, Smith attended Jesuit High School in Manhattan and briefly studied at Fordham University and Georgetown University, but he soon left formal education behind. His passion for art grew while studying evenings at the Art Students League in New York, where he trained under notable artists, including George Grosz.

In 1937, Smith enrolled at the New Bauhaus in Chicago, studying under László Moholy-Nagy. He quickly advanced to lead the metal workshop but left after a year. Shortly after, he moved back to New York and began working for Frank Lloyd Wright as a site supervisor, an experience that deeply influenced his understanding of space and structure.

(Credit to Wikimedia Commons)

Architectural career

During the 1940s and 1950s, Smith worked as an architect, creating private residences for artists and patrons. His architectural designs reflected his interest in geometry and spatial relationships. 

By the early 1960s, Smith’s experiments with steel forms shifted his focus from architecture to sculpture. His early sculptures, such as ‘Die’, a large black steel cube, embody his minimalist style and reflect his architectural roots.

Tony Smith’s sculptural breakthrough

Smith’s work gained critical attention in 1966 when he was featured in the influential exhibition Primary Structures at the Jewish Museum in New York, which helped define Minimalism as a movement. His large-scale steel sculptures, often based on geometric modules like tetrahedrons and cubes, invited viewers to engage physically with the art in space.

His sculpture ‘Smoke’, a complex arrangement of black steel planes, is considered a masterpiece of minimalist sculpture and is held by the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). Public commissions such as Willyin New York and The Fourth Sign in California expanded his reputation internationally.

The Italian job

Tony Smith produced a limited-edition print series inspired by the 1969 film The Italian Job. These stunning prints were issued in a small, signed and numbered edition, reflecting Smith’s playful engagement beyond sculpture.

Tony Smith’s personal life

Smith married Jane Lawrence, an opera singer and actress, in 1943. The couple had three daughters, including the celebrated artists Kiki Smith and Seton Smith, who have each made significant contributions to contemporary art. Smith continued to teach and create until his death from a heart attack in 1980.

Legacy and influence

Tony Smith’s work transformed the landscape of American sculpture. His integration of architectural principles with minimalist aesthetics influenced generations of artists. Major museums, including the Museum of Modern Art, Whitney Museum, and LACMA, hold his works in their collections, ensuring his lasting presence in the art world.

Smith’s teaching legacy continues through the artists he mentored, and his work remains a touchstone for conversations about space, form, and the physical experience of art.

(Credit to Flickr)

Tony Smith’s life story is a testament to the power of perseverance and innovation. His monumental steel sculptures challenge and inspire viewers to reconsider the relationship between object, space, and perception.

For those interested in owning a piece of Tony Smith’s legacy, PM Antiques offers a unique opportunity to acquire prints from his Italian Job prints and much more. Buy Tony Smith art online.