ABOUT GEOFFREY
"Art is important. It was man's first form of lasting communication. I am compelled to tell the story of the wild, to connect people to nature and the environment through Art".
-Geoffrey C. Smith
BIOGRAPHY
Geoffrey C. Smith is an American wildlife sculptor, painter and photographer. Geoffrey grew up in California, graduated from Montana State University and currently resides in the coastal town of Stuart, Florida. His best-known work is that of the Stuart Sailfish. The 18-foot monument situated in downtown Stuart serves as the iconic symbol of the city.
Geoffrey has been characterized as a representational sculptor, although stylistically he may be viewed as a naturalist. His signature artistic style can be deemed “loose”, wherein the subjects of his work are represented by basic elements such as fingerprints giving the suggestion of feathers or fur. All of his bronzes are crafted into masterpieces by the ancient lost-wax casting process, whereby an original sculpture is made of clay. After that, a mold is made from the original from which the foundry creates an enduring bronze sculpture. Geoffrey prefers smaller, limited editions. He proofs each work personally before they are signed and numbered. Geoffrey uses a traditional patina finishing process on his bronze sculptures, choosing to represent the animal as nature has seen fit to create it.
After early success as a duck decoy carver, Geoffrey began casting bronzes from clay in 1984. His upbringing on the northern California coast and later experiences in the wilds of Montana instilled a love of nature and a talent for patient observation of wildlife in its habitat. Since moving to Florida in 1996 with his family, he spends a lot of time amongst the abundant wildlife that inspires his works. He frequently returns to Montana to collaborate with his foundry. As their primary artist, Smith can work hands-on at the foundry to ensure the highest consistency and quality for his sculptures. Geoffrey has been honored with commissions from the state of Montana and multiple private and corporate collections. His diverse artistic skill ranges from creating smaller pieces to capture a favorite animal’s detailed characteristics to producing larger-than-life monumental works. His bronze sculptures have been presented to The Vatican, President George Bush, Vice-President Dan Quayle, state officials and foreign dignitaries. He is a member of the prestigious Society of Animal Artists. In addition to having two Signature Galleries, Geoffrey is represented by fine art galleries throughout the United States. He regularly exhibits at fine art shows, including the Annual Society of Animal Artists exhibition where he received The Merit Award in 2015 for his Modern Pelican sculpture.
IN THE NEWS
Geoffrey Smith with George H Bush
Letter from The White House 1990
The Stuart News November 27, 2007
The Palm Beach Post February 9, 2003
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Palm Beach Post January 20, 2003
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1/1/03The Palm Beach Post Local Page
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Stuart News October 29, 2002
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Islander January 19, 2001
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The Post and Courier February 12, 1997
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