//ARTIST BIO

Jessica Bosworth Smith (b. 1989) is an artist who is interested in exploring the narrative potential of contemporary painting. Each piece contains exciting and unexpected elements which demands a closer look to appreciate the details; creating unusual and layered dialogues between the artist’s imagination and viewer’s. Bosworth Smith’s scenes, often depicting sumptuous interiors, eclectic exteriors, objects of interest, sprawling jungles, and cats at leisure, are an exploration of her interest in space; both familiar and fantastical.

Working primarily in gouache and using thorough visual research, the artist uses her artwork to both re-experience places she has travelled to and to weave together extravagant scenes which are neither feasible or, seemingly, practical. The artist loves to create seemingly familiar scenes through a maximalist lens, using a riot of pattern, texture, and detail. Bosworth Smith’s love of cats and the strange cultural significance of the trope of the “cat lady” has demarcated her paintings as zones of play where she explores themes of being alone without being lonely, covetousness without jealousy, and passionate collecting of things without obsession.

Jessica Bosworth Smith received her BFA from Rhodes University, a Post-Graduate Certificate in Education, and an Honours in Visual Studies (Illustration) from Stellenbosch University (Cum Laude) as well as. She was named one of the Design Indaba Emerging Creatives of 2017, was part of the Top 100 in the ABSA l’Atelier in 2017 and 2018, participated in the Comic Blast residency at the Arteles Creative Center in Finland in 2018, and has published two books through Imagnary House. She held her first solo exhibition, A Very Grand Tour, at Salon Ninety One in 2022.

// ARTIST CV

2025

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2024

People Pleaser solo exhibition, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Ode To Autumn group exhibition, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

Investec Cape Town Art Fair, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2023

Cat Person - solo exhibition, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa,

Summer Group Show, 131 A Gallery, Cape Town, South Africa

2022

This day - duo exhibition, Tokara Wine Estate, Stellenbosch, South Africa

Absa Gallery showcase  - group show, ABSA gallery for the Klein Karoo National Arts Festival, Outshoorn, South Africa

A Very Grand Tour - solo exhibition, Salon Ninety One, Cape Town, South Africa

2021

When it's hot out and you wanna have a good time - group show, Salon Ninety One, Cape Town, South Africa

2020

A Hazy Shade of Winter- group show, Salon Ninety One, Cape Town, South Africa

2019

Wildflowers - group show, Salon Ninety One, Cape Town, South Africa

“Liefie” publication - children’s illustrated picture book, Imagnary House, Cape Town, South Africa

2018

Folklore - group show, Salon Ninety One, Cape Town

ABSA l'Atelier 2018 - group show, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Midnight - group show, Salon Ninety One for Turbine Art Fair, Johannesburg, South Africa

Arteles Comic Blast - Artist Residency, Arteles Creative Centre, Haukijärvi, Finland

What It Is - group show, Absolut Gallery, Stellenbosch, South Africa

“The Straw Giant & The Crow” publication - children’s illustrated picture book, Imagnary House, Cape Town, South Africa

2017

ABSA l'Atelier 2017 - group show, ABSA Gallery, Johannesburg, South Africa

Design Indaba Emerging Creative 2017 - Creative Programme, Design Indaba 2017, Cape Town, South Africa