Paper has always been a primary material in the work of Justine Smith. Her practice is concerned with the sourcing, purchasing and cutting up of international banknotes, transforming them into intricately wrought and researched artworks. She is interested in the concept of money and how it touches almost every aspect of our lives: as a piece of propaganda, a belief system or a conduit of power. On a physical level a banknote is just a piece of paper, but it is what a banknote actually represents that is central to Smith’s work. Through her collages, prints and sculptures she examines our relationship with money in a political, ecological and social sense whilst also exploiting the physical beauty of the notes.
She has exhibited her work in galleries and museums internationally, her work hanging in 10 Downing Street and HM Treasury. Recent commissions include works to celebrate the 95th Birthday of The Queen for the Royal Mint, a sculpture commissioned by The Bank of England for their 325th Anniversary exhibition, a commission to create a Swatch watch for the Swatch Art project along with collaborations with Liberty and Nike. Notable collections include The British Museum, The British Council, The British Library, The Bank of England, The Royal Mint Museum and the UK Government Art Collection along with financial institutions and private collections. Most recently her work was acquired by The Fitzwilliam Museum and is to go on show as part of a major exhibition there later this year.
She lives and works in London.
