Darden Smith

Darden Smith is a musician and artist with a 35-year career that continues to evolve and grow. He has released sixteen critically acclaimed albums, toured extensively in both the US and Europe, composed a symphony, scored three full-length dance theater works, founded two non-profits, written music for film and advertising. His first book, The Habit of Noticing: Using Creativity to Make a Life (and a Living) was published by Irie Books in 2018. Western Skies (2022) is Smith’s latest and most expansive project to date, encompassing a book of photographs, lyrics and essays; an album of new songs; and a series of lithographs, drawings, videos and spoken word recordings.

Smith’s growing collection of visual art is in private and corporate collections in the US and Europe. His first solo exhibition was in 2018 at Bale Creek Allen gallery in Austin, TX. The site-specific installation, What I See When I See You, is in the permanent collection of Facebook. Smith’s Western Skies Lithographs, a suite of 11 images based on his Polaroid photographs, were first exhibited at Houston’s Redbud Gallery in Spring 2022. His etching, Lucky Strike, was purchased in 2022 by the Library of Congress for inclusion in its Prints and Photographs Collection.

Gallery Exhibitions and installations:

2018   The Habit of Noticing – Bale Creek Allen Gallery, Austin, TX; Solo Exhibition

2019   What I See When I See You; Installation, Permanent Collection of Facebook

2020  Flatbed Redux – Flatbed Gallery, Austin, TX; Group Exhibition

            Mark Smith Gallery, Johnson City, TX; Solo Exhibition

2022   Western Skies Lithographs – Redbud Gallery, Houston, TX; Solo Exhibition