MEGAN GEORGIA SMITH
Megan Georgia Smith (born 1999) is an artist from Aldershot, Hampshire. Her work documents and explores class, youth culture, and the condition of being human. Often, her work is autobiographical, drawing upon her own social and cultural surroundings for inspiration. Artworks of Megan's have been exhibited in galleries such as The Mall Gallery (July 2017), Aspex Gallery (as part of the Platform Graduate Award 2020 exhibition) and at Tate Britain (December 2021).
Artist Statement
My creative practice is mainly centred around painting. These works are inspired by my life experiences, thoughts, and imaginations which are heavily influenced by my connection to working-class youth subculture through growing up and living in industrial, working-class towns, and cities. I view the modern, urban world as a sometimes bleak, almost harrowing place to be and this is reflected in my work.
My paintings eulogize a modern-day, working-class society (something that I feel is lacking in contemporary art) with purpose of glorifying its citizens yet highlighting their struggles. I always overemphasize the forms, behaviours, and fashions of my figures, often playing upon stereotypes of British working-class folk and young people. I do this because these are who I feel I most identify with in society as a working-class 22-year-old. By amplifying these stereotypes, I attempt to illustrate my dark sense of humour, mocking, and playing up to the idea that every working-class/ young person can be identified this way (when of course - they cannot).
ARTIST CV
Exhibitions / Residencies
2016
New Tate Modern exhibition, Tate Modern, London
2017
Student Submissions, Mall Gallery, London
2018
Solent University Fine Art Exhibition, Herbert Collins Building, Southampton
2019
Docked, Guildhall Square, Southampton
Made in Southampton, Re:So, Southampton
Fire in the Swimming Pool, Pocko Gallery, London
Megan Georgia Smith, The Art House, Southampton
2020
Solent Fine Art Degree Show (Virtual Exhibition), Southampton
Platform Graduate Award, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth
Ripe Tomatoes, The Alfred Arcade (Virtual Exhibition), Southampton
Arts Open Exhibition, Culture on Call, West End Centre (Virtual Exhibition), Aldershot
The Social Distance Art Project 2020, TSDAP (Virtual Exhibition)
2021
Power To Us, Yellow Edge Gallery, Gosport
This is Not a Show, Working Class Creatives Database (Virtual Exhibition)
Ripe Tomato Catch-Up, Alfred Arcade, Southampton
Arts Open Exhibition, Culture on Call, West End Centre, Aldershot
Space 2 Create, The Hidden Wardrobe, Southampton
Platform Alumni Residency, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth (Dec '21 - Feb '22)
Life Between Islands, Late at Tate Britain, Tate Britain, London
2022
Platform Alumni Residency, Aspex Gallery, Portsmouth (Dec '21 - Mar '22)
Megan Georgia Smith, The Hidden Wardrobe, Southampton (July)
Experience
2019
Exhibition Marketing and Promotion (Internship), Solent Showcase Gallery, Southampton
2020
Gallery Assistant, Solent Showcase Gallery, Southampton
Local Digital Artist, Serious Violence Summit for Hampshire Constabulary and Southampton City Council
Art Box Preparation for Collaborative Project ‘Art boxes to go’, Southampton City Council and Solent University
Online Exhibition Curator for Graduate Showcase 2020, Solent Showcase Gallery, Southampton
2021 - 2022
Assistant Facilitator @ The Agency, Energise Me, Southampton
Learning Assistant, Watts Gallery Artists Village, Guildford
Awards
2015
FHES Art and Design Award
Education
Southampton Solent University
First Class Honors Degree - BA Fine Art (2017-2020)
Farnborough Sixth Form College
A-Levels (2015-2017)
Fine Art, Graphic Design, English Literature (Grades A-B)
Farnham Heath End School
11 GCSE's including English and Maths (Grades A*- C)