Heroes and Villains

Gallery CA proudly presents Heroes & Villains, the debut solo exhibition of Noreen Smith. The exhibition focuses on Smith’s Heroes & Villains series, a body of collaged artwork created between 2020 to 2023. 

Through meticulous and intentional placement, which Smith calls an “interlocking and weaving” of materials, the artist creates collaged universes referencing pop culture, spirituality, resilience, and womanhood. Through her art, Smith seeks to unravel the complexities and nuances of female existence over time and various life occurrences while celebrating the innate power of womanhood and the divine feminine.

The exhibition masterfully employs collage as a medium, featuring a mixture of new and never before seen artworks, with all materials meticulously sourced from comic books and graphic novels. By utilizing these materials, Smith calls attention to the serialized and ephemeral nature of comics, cleverly reflecting the real-world racism, sexism, and classism that persist in American society. The juxtaposition of pop culture elements with profound social commentary offers visitors a unique perspective on the struggles faced by marginalized communities. 

Heroes & Villains aims to shine a spotlight on the challenges faced by black and brown women compared to their white female counterparts while navigating feminine freedoms and human rights in a white male-dominated society. Each artwork is also an update of the predominantly white comic book world. Smith has created characters that reflect her lived experiences and offer a mirror of representation for Black creators to find familiarity within the work.