About subtexture

Chris Smith aka “subtexture” is a Brooklyn based artist and designer. He’s not a street artist, but he uses things he’s found on the street, such as road signs, rusted metal and old wood as ingredients in his art. A self-proclaimed “punk printer” he utilizes a wide range of processes in his work, including image transfer, silkscreen, stencil, letterpress, and collage.

Smith graduated from Pratt Institute in the late 80’s has shown extensively in independent galleries, bars and other alternative spaces around Brooklyn. 

He started out making band flyers and has designed record covers for GG Allin, Johnny Thunders, Television, the Dickies, and countless bands that you’ve never heard of. More recently, his art has appeared on a number of television shows including Saturday Night Live, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Law & Order SVU and Elementary.

He’s heavily influenced by pop-artists such as Ed Ruscha, Andy Warhol and Robert Rauschenberg, and is inspired by cross-country road trips, roadside Americana, vintage car culture and pin-ups. 

Like these artists, a lot of his work is heavily rooted in his photography. From his countless road trips to his years exploring the streets of Brooklyn, Smith looks at the world around him and uses bits of it as source material for his art.

As a curator, he loves working with small businesses and he has been producing shows in the Greenpoint area for almost 20 years. He has worked with many local organizations such as GoGreen Brooklyn, Greenpoint Gallery Night, Greenpoint Open Studios, Bushwick Open Studios and the Northside Alliance.