D. L. Smith
D.L. Smith is a Spokane-based painter whose work often explores the intersection of abstraction and the human figure. Working across large-scale canvases and mixed-media surfaces, Smith has developed a distinctive visual language that combines expressive line, geometric structure, and vibrant color relationships to investigate themes of identity, emotion, memory, and transformation.
Drawing inspiration from both modernist abstraction and figurative traditions, D.L.'s paintings move fluidly between recognizable forms and pure gesture. Human figures emerge, dissolve, and reassemble within layered compositions, creating spaces that are simultaneously psychological, symbolic, and personal. His work often balances spontaneity with structure, allowing intuition and formal design to coexist within a single image.
Throughout his artistic practice, D.L. has remained committed to the idea that the figure serves as more than representation; it functions as a vehicle for exploring human experience itself. Whether through fragmented portraits, reclining forms, abstract narratives, or expressive color fields, his paintings invite viewers to participate in an open-ended dialogue between perception and imagination.
His studio is the dining room of the house he shares with his wife, where they collaborate and make art together.
His work has been exhibited at local Spokane galleries and venues, including MadLab Co., Terrain (The Event, 14, 15, & 16), the Liberty Building, Wiley's Bistro, Barrister Winery, and the Spokane Library.
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