“My artwork is inspired by the beauty I explore in nature every day.”

artist statement

Art, for me, is a language of emotion, transformation, and connection. My work is rooted in the belief that creating is a deeply healing process, one that opens the mind and reshapes perspectives.

I approach each painting as a layered exploration, creating compositions that are intuitive yet intentional, designed to evoke a sense of place, energy, or emotion. Bold yet balanced, my work often reflects an interplay between the natural and the abstract, the calm and the chaotic.

Inspired by the colors and rhythms of the environment around me, especially the California coastline, I strive to bring organic beauty into contemporary spaces. Whether through mixed media or acrylic, each piece is an invitation to pause, to reflect, and to feel something.

As a contemporary artist, I aim to create work that resonates across interiors, speaks to collectors, and brings a sense of vitality and depth to curated spaces.

– Lucas W. Smith

biography

Lucas Smith is an award-winning contemporary abstract artist who works primarily in acrylic mixed media, utilizing canvas and wood panels. Lucas blends imagination, raw materials, and refined techniques to create dynamic compositions that invite viewers on a journey of exploration.

His work is held in private collections throughout the U.S., including California, Oregon, Arizona, New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Illinois, and Missouri, as well as internationally in Norway and Australia.

He is a resident artist of Studio 2 at Art on 30th in North Park, San Diego. Visitors are welcome to experience his work firsthand, located at 4434 30th St, San Diego, CA 92116, Monday through Saturday, 10 AM - 4 PM, or by private appointment.

Lucas is an active member of the Carlsbad Oceanside Art League, the San Diego Watercolor Society, OMA Artist Alliance, Sargeant Art Group, Foothills Art Association, and the San Diego Museum of Art. He currently serves as the Assistant Director of the SDWS 45th International Exhibition, while also devoting his energy to commissioned creations and the continued development of his artistic vision and voice.

CV

Awards

  • “Golden Hour”, The SDWS 45th International Exhibition - 4th Place, Innovative Use of Technique by juror Kathleen Conover

  • “Transdimensional” 73rd Fine Art Open Annual, North Coastal Art Gallery - 2nd Place by juror Daniel Foster

  • “Dreamscape”, The 2025 San Diego County Fair Exhibition of Fine Art - Third Place Award

  • “Devil & the Blue Sea”, Foothills Art Association - People’s Choice Award

  • “Petals & Ash”, North Coastal Art Gallery - May Exhibition - Awarded Third Place

  • “Mystic Meadows”, Gallery 4%, 6th Unreal Non-Representational International Art Contest - Awarded Third Prize

  • “Sunsets & Seascapes”, TERAVARNA 13th Abstract International Juried Art Competition - Honorable Mention

  • “Square Spaces”, Foothills Art Association - People’s Choice Award

  • “Distant Shore”, Ashton Art Gallery, Regional Exhibition - Awarded Best of Show by Mike Tauber, juror

  • “Exhilaration”, Ashton Art Gallery, Regional Exhibition - Awarded Juror’s Choice by Sandi Cottrell, juror

  • “Aerial", North Coastal Art Gallery, 2024 Member Exhibition - Awarded 2nd place by Denise Cerro, juror

  • “Born to be Wild”, Ashton Art Gallery, Regional Exhibition - Awarded 1st Place by Thai Huynh French, juror

  • “On the Horizon”, North Coastal Art Gallery, May Member Show - Awarded 1st place by Jayne Spencer, juror

  • “Heart Shaped Palm”, North Coastal Art Gallery, April Member Exhibition - Honorable Mention by Katie Joiner, juror

  • “Broken Hill”, North Coastal Art Gallery, August Member Show - Awarded 2nd Place

  • "Nature’s Spotlight”, SDWS Gallery, Luminous Spaces- Awarded Best of Minis by Chuck McPherson, juror

  • “Vibrant Cups”, SDWS Gallery, Where the Fun is Exhibition - Awarded Honorable Mention by Roberta Dyer, juror

Solo Exhibitions
2025

  • Solo Exhibit, “Retrospective”, Winer Family Community Room, San Carlos Branch Library, San Diego, CA

  • Lucas Smith Solo Exhibition - “Beyond the Boundaries”, Gallery 21, Spanish Village Arts Center, San Diego, CA

2024

  • Lucas Smith - Solo Exhibition, Gallery 21, Spanish Village Arts Center, San Diego, CA

Select Juried Exhibitions
2025
“45th International Exhibition”, The San Diego Watercolor Society, San Diego, CA
“PotLuck”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA “8th Annual PROUD+ National Exhibition”, The Studio Door, San Diego, CA
“73rd Fine Art Open Annual”, North Coastal Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA “Everybody Tells a Story”, The San Diego Watercolor Society, San Diego, CA
“The Merry Month of May”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Growth in Motion”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Divided Canvas”, Pro Group Show, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Gathering Light”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA - OMA Artist Alliance “13th Abstract”, International Juried Art Competition, TERAVARNA - Honorable Mention Award
2024
“Golden Autumn”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA - Awarded Best of Show by Mike Tauber “Splendid Summer”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery - Awarded Juror’s Choice by Sandi Cottrell “Reverberating Notes”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Finest Art Showcase San Diego”, International Exhibition, Art Scene West, San Diego, CA “Member Show”, North Coastal Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA - Awarded 1st place by Jayne Spencer
“Mixin’ It Up” Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA “Abstract Exhibition”, National Exhibition, Covet Art Gallery, Oceanside, CA
“Fresh”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA - Awarded 1st Place by Thai Huynh French
“RED HOT”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
"Treasures", The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
"The No Theme, Theme Show", Covet Art Gallery, Oceanside, CA
"Small Image Art Show", Gallery 21, Spanish Village Arts Center, San Diego, CA
"2024 Member Exhibition" North Coastal Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA - Awarded 2nd place by Denise Cerro
"Artistic Resurgence”, OMA Oceanside Museum of Art Artist Alliance, San Diego, CA
2023
"Emerging Free”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
"3rd Annual Mentorship Exhibition", Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
"Luminous Spaces”, The San Diego Watercolor Society - Awarded Best of Minis by Chuck McPherson
"Holiday Art Exhibition", Oceanside Artwalk at the Seabird Resort, Oceanside, CA
"What's the Story?", The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
"MyPoint", The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
"4th Annual Reigning Cats & Dogs Exhibition", Gallery 21, Spanish Village, San Diego, CA
"Autumn Glory", Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Under the Moon”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA 
“71st Fine Art Open Annual”, North Coastal Art Gallery, Carlsbad, CA 
“Where the Fun is”, The San Diego Watercolor Society - Awarded Honorable Mention by Roberta Dyer
“Color Scheming”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Beach Party”, Regional Exhibition, Ashton Art Gallery, San Diego, CA 
“Climate in Change”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA
“Blooming Thoughts”, The San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery, San Diego, CA

Publications
2025, Summer, Art is Not a Hobby Sit Down View the Interview Here
PROUD+ 2025, National Exhibition Catalog by The Studio Door; Published 2025
2025, Spring, San Diego Union Tribune “Beyond the Boundaries: An Exploration in abstract Art” News Article
2025, Spring, KPBS Online “Beyond the Boundaries: An Exploration in abstract Art” Online: https://www.kpbs.org/events/
2024, Spring, San Diego Union Tribune, “Minimal Design & Organic Shapes” Solo Exhibition by Lucas Smith https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com
2024, Spring, KPBS, “Minimal Designs & Organic Shapes An Art Exhibition” View Here
2024, Spring, Uptown News Article, Spring Artist Spotlight “Artist Lucas Smith Solo Exhibit Gallery 21”
2024, April, MYFOX8 EIN Presswire | Newsmatics, Mission Valley Artist Making His Mark on San Diego with "Minimal Designs & Organic Shapes" at Gallery 21 - View the Article Here
2024, August, Canvas Rebel Magazine, article by Mike Alvarez “Meet Lucas Smith”
2024, October, SDVoyager Magazine, Interview “Rising Stars of San Diego”
2024, November, BOLD Journey Magazine, Fall Interview “BOLD Journey: Meet Lucas Smith, San Diego”
2023, Fall, SDWS Press Release, Luminous Spaces Exhibition, The San Diego Watercolor Society, “Mission Valley Artist Wins Best of Miniatures Award” (Nature’s Spotlight by Lucas Smith) - View Here

Affiliations The San Diego Watercolor Society Member & Co-Director of the 2025 International Exhibition - Click Here Ashton Gallery at Art on 30th Studio #2 Resident Artist - Click Here Oceanside Museum of Art Artist Alliance 2023, 2024, 2025 - Click Here
Carlsbad - Oceanside Art League Member 2024, 2025
San Diego Museum of Art Member 2025 Foothills Art Association Member 2024, 2025 - Click Here Sergeant Art Group 2024, 2025 - Click Here 

Professional Experience Co-Director of the 2025 International Exhibition - the San Diego Watercolor Society Gallery (Present) Click Here
Studio Artist Studio # 2 Lucas Smith Fine Art Studio & Gallery (2025 - Present) Click Here
Director of Ashton Art Gallery & Studio’s (Dec 2024 - April 2025)
Gallery Team Leader (Sept 2024 - Dec 2024)
Gallery Assistant (Feb 2024 - Sept 2024)

Education
2024 - 2025
Professional Artist Group
Advanced Abstract Art
Expressive Figures Workshop
2022 - 2023
Artists Development & Mentorship Program
Finding Your Visual Voice
Seascapes
Abstractionism from Germany Workshop
Textured Minimalism
Abstract Watermedia
Intermediate Abstract Art
Color Mixing
Color Harmony
Intro to Abstract Art
Art 101
2008
University of Missouri St Louis
Drawing/Sketching
Art History 1 – Prehistoric – Gothic