Bob and Roberta Smith is, in fact, one person, the name of the British artist, writer, and musician Patrick Brill. Some of his most well-known exhibitions include the Tate collection feature Make Art Not War.
In the early 1990s, Bob and Roberta Smith received his Master’s from Goldsmiths, after which he became an artist’s Trustee at the Tate. In 2013 he hopped to the National Campaign for the Arts and became a patron of
NSEAD of the (National Society for Education in Art and Design)
Bob and Roberta Smith use his experience of living all over the world in places such as Rome, New York, and the UK to create colorful artworks that are a feast for the eyes. The pieces often have compelling and punchy messages that are difficult to ignore.
Bob and Roberta is also well known for his avid campaigning. In 2013 he created the
Art Party, which solely aims to demonstrate to the government that they should take art and design in schools more seriously. The party is not an official political party but does have several well-known artists (Cornelia Parker RA, Jeremy Deller, and Dick Wentworth) in it who are trying to get through to the government regarding these issues.
His artwork is the perfect marriage between politics and artistry, with much of his inspiration coming from various campaigns. The activism stems from Bob’s thinking that campaigns are an extension of what we consider art and that you can raise awareness by using something as simple as a sign.
Bob and Roberta Smith: Letter to Michael Gove MP, 25 July 2011
Many of his pieces are showcased on signs and use color blocking with bold and mismatched lettering. Bob has made a name for himself in the world of resistance art and is not afraid to throw paint at a canvas in the name of human rights.
So, what are B&RS doing now? The artist is doing what artists do – paint and create, and the good news is the work is available to
buy at ArtSpace – we love
Art Party – Bob and Roberta Smith cleverly parody (Conservative Education Secretary) Michael Gove’s stance on art education by using footage from his controversial film
Art Party. The print features images of modern artists and is purposefully “low tech” and gritty-looking.
B&RS is also exhibiting at the Tate Modern until May 2023 with Thamesmead Codex, a free exhibition celebrating
community life in Thamesmead.
