Words For Art Dr Damian Smith

Consultancy services

Education & speaking

Lecturing, conference papers and public speaking on contemporary art and curatorial practice.

In practice
The Havana Biennale
Damian Smith presenting ‘Barefoot Curating: Intercambio’ at the International Association of Art Critics 2016 World Congress, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana – L–R Robert Storr, Nilafur Farouk, Damian Smith, Hillary Robinson, Yolanda Wood. Photograph by Mia Salsjö
Dr Damian Smith addressing the Australian Club Dinner, 7 March 2024
Dr Damian Smith addressing the Australian Club Dinner, 7 March 2024
Barefoot Curating: Contemporary Art and the Role of the Freelance Curator, Damian Smith's doctoral dissertation
Barefoot Curating: Contemporary Art and the Role of the Freelance Curator, Damian Smith's doctoral dissertation

Damian Smith is a widely published author and lecturer. He has tutored and lectured in Critical and Theoretical Studies (art) at the VCA/MCM University of Melbourne, and Museum & Gallery Management (Masters’) for RMIT University. He is a prolific speaker at international arts conferences and symposia.

Key academic texts2018 – 2025 · three

  • 2025Smith, D ‘Sidney Nolan’s Irishness’ in Barber F & Cullen F (Ed’s.)The Routledge Companion to Irish Art, first edition 2025 - This companion contains new and innovative writing on Irish art and its history, from c. 1800 to the present day.
  • 2018Smith D (ed.) The Geoff Raby Collection of Contemporary Chinese Art. First published in 2018 by Words For ArtBeijing. Second edition published in 2018 Western Sydney University. Third edition published by La Trobe University Press (LTUP) a joint imprint of Black Inc.
  • –LTUP publishes leading scholars and experts, producing books of high intellectual quality, substance and originality.

Doctoral dissertation

Barefoot Curating: Contemporary Art and the Role of the Freelance Curator, RMIT University 2016

Peer-reviewed publications

Smith, D 2022 Melbourne’s Australasian Cultural Arts Exchange in Green, J. (ed.), TAASA Review, The Journal of the Asian Arts Society of Australia, Volume 31: Issue 4, Sydney, December 2022

Smith, D 2021 The Geoff Raby Collection of Chinese Art at La Trobe University in Green, J. (ed.), TAASA Review, The Journal of the Asian Arts Society of Australia, Volume 30: Issue 2, Sydney, June 2021

McLennan, K. (ed.), Lee, M., Smith, D., (assoc. eds.), Yin, C., Ormond-Parker, L., Smith, D., Lee, M., Zhou, X., Convergence: The Art of Zhou Xiaoping in Aboriginal Australia, Touring exhibition: Museum of Chinese Australian History, Melbourne, ACIAC Western Sydney University, Live in Art, Sydney, ACAE Gallery, Melbourne, published by Western Sydney University, 2020

Smith D 2018 ‘Xiao Lu’s Dialogue’, in 2018 AICA International Congress Taiwan: Art Criticism in the Age of Virtuality and Democracy, 16–18 November, Taipei, AICA Taiwan, Taipei Fine Arts Museum, National Taipei University of Education: Department of Art and Design, Critical and Curatorial Studies of Contemporary Art at NTUE, Museum of NTUE, Taiwan

  • 2016Smith D (ed.) Alvarez L (trans.) 2016 Intercambio: A Conversation Between Two Trains – La Bienal de la HabanaRMIT University
  • 2014Lindy Lee: Zen Buddhism As Artistic Processin Helmrich, M, (curator), Lindy Lee: The Dark of Absolute Freedom, exhib. cat., Queensland University Museum, published by Queensland University Press
  • 2014John Perceval and the Angelsin Paisley, K, (curator), Delinquent Angel: John Perceval’s Ceramic Angels, Shepparton Art Gallery
  • 2012Art and Trust in MexicoDesign Research Institute, RMIT University
  • 2012Initiating Moonboy: Secret Symbolism in Sidney Nolan’s ‘Snake’School of Art, University of Tasmania
  • 2012Lindy Lee: Making Timein Kent R (curator), Marking Time, exhib. cat., Museum of Contemporary Art, Sydney
  • 2011Lindy Lee: Painting With FireArt & Australia, Volume 49, no.2, December 2011
  • 2006Nolan Through Kellyin Morgan K & Smith D (curators), Unmasked: Sidney Nolan and Ned Kelly 1950 – 1990, exhib. cat., Heide Museum of Modern Art, Melbourne
  • 2003Sidney Nolan and the Photographic Eyein Smith G & Smith D (curators), Sidney Nolan: Desert and Drought, exhib. cat., National Gallery of Victoria, Melbourne

Casey K & Smith D 2013 ‘Global Mind Field: A Cybernetic Perspective’, in Cleland K, Fisher L & Harley R (eds) Proceedings of the 19th International Symposium of Electronic Art, ISEA2013, Sydney, Published by ISEA International, the Australian Network for Art & Technology and the University of Sydney, ISBN: 978-0-646-91313- 1 https://ses.library.usyd.edu.au/handle/2123/9759

Conference papers2007 – 2018 · 19

  • 2018Xiao Lu’s DialogueArt Criticism in the Age of Virtuality and Democracy, International Association of Art Critics World Congress, Museum of National Taipei University of Education, Taiwan
  • 2018Providing Opportunities to Victorian Artists From Diverse Cultural BackgroundsMaking Your Gallery Inclusive, Public Galleries Association of Victoria
  • 2016Barefoot Curating: IntercambioNew Utopias: Art, Memory, Context, International Association of Art Critics World Congress, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Habana Cuba
  • 2015Michelangelo Pistoletto: The Third Paradise ConferenceBertolt Brecht Theatre, Havana, Cuba 2015Delegate
  • 2015Curating street artArt Curatorship: Now & Beyond, University of Melbourne
  • 2015Ways of Seeing Conference (in honour of the art critic John Berger)Royal Collections, Greenwich, London UK, 2015Special Rapporteur
  • 2015Art in Public Space in Melbournelecture, Jiangsu University of Technology & Changzhou Institute of Technology, China
  • 2013Convenor Colombia Australia: Cultural Connections in the 21st CenturyColombian Foreign Ministry, Multicultural Arts Victoria, RMIT University RMIT Design Hub, 2013
  • 2012Asia Story: Parts I: The Rise of Chinese ArtArt Melbourne in association with the China Australia Art Foundation, Melbourne, 2012, Speakers: Tamsin Roberts, Yashian Schuable, Maggie McCormack, Song LingPanel moderator
  • 2012Asia Story Part II: The Rise of the Asian Art MarketArt Melbourne in association with the China Australia Art Foundation, Melbourne, 2012, Speakers: Melissa Kavanagh, Dr Annette Van den Bosch, Deborah Salter, Edward SandersonPanel moderator
  • 2011Guest Arts WriterCastlemaine Visual Arts Biennale, 2011
  • 2011Mike Nicholls: Primitive Soulpublic seminar, McClelland Gallery, July
  • 2011New Art From TibetInnovasian: Asian Art 1960 to now, Art Gallery of New South Wales, August
  • 2011ISEA International Symposium of Electronic ArtIstanbul, 2011Delegate
  • 2011Transitio 04Mexico City, 2011Delegate
  • 2011Damian Smith: Towards a philosophy of curatingArtist Forum: Pressing Issues, Castelmaine Visual Arts Biennale, La Trobe University, Bendigo, March
  • 2009Let’s Shake: Art & ReconciliationParliament of the World’s Religions, Melbourne
  • 2007Audience DevelopmentPublic Galleries Association of Victoria, Bendigo Art Gallery
  • 2007From Artist to CuratorNETS Victoria Curator’s Conference, National Gallery of Victoria