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NYC Artist Lucien Smith Dies at 37 Amid Career Resurgence
10 Sep
Summary
- Artist Lucien Smith, known for "zombie formalism," has died at 37.
- Smith had recently completed a new art collection and opened a restaurant.
- His early career saw rapid fame and speculative art market practices.
Lucien Smith, a New York City artist who achieved early fame in the 2010s, has died at the age of 37. His passing was announced by his gallerist and friend, Bill Powers. Smith had recently completed a new collection of paintings and had also ventured into the restaurant business, having opened one in 2025.
Smith's career initially took off while he was a student at The Cooper Union. He became associated with "zombie formalism," a term describing art that mimics established styles without originality, often fueling speculative art markets. Despite his association with this, Smith had been critical of the practice, noting its unsustainability.
He acknowledged that his earnings were invested wisely, including in his restaurant, ensuring his financial comfort. The speculative art market that characterized Smith's early career collapsed around 2015, making previously valuable works difficult to resell.
