Anj Smith's Visionary Paintings Dialogue with Bardini Collection in Florence

The Museo Stefano Bardini in Florence hosts a solo exhibition of British artist Anj Smith (born 1978 in Kent), featuring twelve visionary paintings that engage with the museum's collection of ancient art. The show, titled 'A Willow Grows Aslant the Brook,' presents works that combine meticulous miniaturist technique with contemporary symbolism and allegory. Museum director Sergio Risaliti describes the pieces as 'small Wunderkammer' where Mannerist spirit is reborn in contemporary guise. Smith's practice adopts a counter-cultural approach, challenging superficial visual consumption and demanding slow, contemplative viewing. In an interview, Smith cites fashion houses Gucci, Pucci, and Ferragamo as influences on her aesthetic sensibility. She also references Jenny Saville's painting 'Trace' as a significant encounter, having met Saville during her university years when Saville was a visiting professor. Smith's creative process during the pandemic was fueled by a Chocolate Cosmos flower from South America, whose intense brick-red velvet petals and chocolate fragrance provided sensory inspiration. The exhibition is presented in collaboration with Hauser & Wirth.