Divine Southgate-Smith (b. 1995)
RA Collection: People and Organisations
Divine Southgate-Smith (b. 1995, Lome, Togo) is a British trans-disciplinary artist. Raised between Paris and London, she studied at the Royal Academy of Arts, London, 2019-2023.
Southgate-Smith has developed a practice comprising film, text, spoken word, performance, sound, installation, sculpture, furniture design, and 3D rendering. Her work often references and questions articulations of black, queer, and female experience. She navigates hypothetical spaces where things are abstracted, contextualised, de-contextualised, omitted, revealed, voiced, or silenced.
Through questioning the traditional equation between sight and understanding - she invites us to observe and question the relationship between visual representation, stereotyping, oppression, position (societal and political), and empowerment.
Her approach to art-making is medium non-specific, allowing her to explore complex narratives through various mediums and disciplines. Southgate-Smith’s practice relies on research, hence, she deals with literature, music, intersectional discourse, and archive material as a source of inspiration and creation.
Profile
Born: 1995
RA Schools student from 2019 to 2022
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Gallery
Divine Southgate-Smith, Untitled.
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Selected CV
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Selected Clients
Lichen Books (March 2021 - present)
Apple inc. (March 2021 - present)
Browns Fashion (November 2020)
Zachary Pulman (September 2019)
In Limen (July 2019)
Lexus (June - October 2018)
HERMÈS (September 2017)
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Selected Awards (nominated) & Residencies
Awards:
FRAME Awards (2021)
MULLEN LOWE GROUP NOVA Award (2017)
The International TAKIFUJI Art Award (2017)
Residencies:
Third Base Residency, Lisbon (September 2018 - January 2019)
Holland Park School, London (September 2014 - August 2015)
La Porte Peinte, Noyers (July 2013 - September 2013)
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Selected Exhibitions
Frente n2, Presented at Desterro (July 2019)
Europe under construction, Presented at Schrill (May 2019)
(Putting words) in my mouth, Presented at Galeria Foco (March 2019)
Mellifluous Elephant, Presented at Casa da Dona Laura (March 2019)
Pada Studio presents Capitulo, Presented at Auditório Municipal Augusto Cabrita (February - April 2019)
Artist Residency Exhibition, Presented at THIRDBASE (September - December 2018)
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