Zak Smith's life and art is full of unexpected twists. He was born in Syracuse New York in 1976 and had a traditional art education--a BFA from Cooper Union and an MFA from Yale. He did a project to illustrate every page of Gravity's Rainbow by Thomas Pynchon, and Smith's work was featured at the Whitney Museum of American Art and is in the collection of the Museum of Modern Art. But in 2006 under the name Zak Sabbath he starred in a porn film called Barbed Wire Kiss and created 100 paintings and drawings about the experience. He went on to donate most of his profits to activist groups including Food Not Bombs. Smith's life could overshadow his art work, except the man can paint. And draw. And create. He is a prolific artist and his work is amazing. But don't take my word, have a look for yourself.
Sascha, acrylic and metallic ink, by Zak Smith
Charlie, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Specter, Drawing by Zak Smith
Xian, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Bella, Acrylic and metallic ink, by Zak Smith
V in the Corner with a Stuffed Rabbit, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Amber, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Temper, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Moshpit, Drawing by Zak Smith
Aprella, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Voltaire, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Sawa, Acrylic painting by Zak Smith
Zak Smith's Illustrations for each page of Gravity's Rainbow, page 75, Schwarzkommando
Zak Smith's Illustrations for each page of Gravity's Rainbow, page 84, ...Infant Tyrone
Zak Smith's Illustrations for each page of Gravity's Rainbow, page 87, The planes drone along...their own color matching certain degrees of cloud
Zak Smith's Illustrations for each page of Gravity's Rainbow, page 536, He beams at Katji, a sunburst in primary colors spiking out from his head
Zak Smith's Illustrations for each page of Gravity's Rainbow, page 636, Mexico do come down off the table won't you
Accurate (self portrait), Acrylic and metallic ink, by Zak Smith
What do you think?