Through a blend of Symbolism, Surrealism and Pop-art, combined with her visual wit, the American artist Emily Mae Smith (b. 1979, Austin, Texas), produces lively and humorous compositions that offer sly social and political commentary. One of the reoccurring characters within her work is an anthropomorphic broomstick figure, simultaneously referencing a domestic tool associated with women’s labour, the phallus and the artist’s brush. Continuously evolving throughout her work, the broom and other symbols speak to contemporary subjects, addressing timely and relevant topics like gender, sexuality, capitalism, and violence. Smith received a B.F.A. from the University of Texas in 2002 and an M.F.A. from Columbia University, New York, in 2006. She currently lives and works in Brooklyn, New York.

This new artist report from ArtTactic takes a closer look at Emily Mae Smith’s market and the eco-system supporting her, bringing together biographical data, auction analysis and expert opinions.