SLATE contemporary is thrilled to present Enough, Oakland based painter Chaves Smith’s first exhibition with the gallery. 

Opening Reception: First Friday, November 4, 5–8pm

Artist Talk: Saturday, November 19, 4–5pm.

Concerts@SLATE - Featuring Justin Ouellet and Marlon Aldana, Saturday, December 3, 7–8:30pm

CLICK HERE to get your tickets to our upcoming concert at SLATE, featuring musicians Justin Ouellet and Marlon Aldana, performing a program of new works in response to the artwork of Chaves Smith.

This current body of work explores the human challenge to navigate a sense of self worth. Through his own creative expression, Chaves Smith attempts to see through the veil of self, and find a place where he feels enough in his mind, body and spirit. Like prayer or meditation, he uses the act of painting to seek and create an internal space. The paintings employ an intricate language of figures and symbols developed over the course of the artist’s life, distilling iconography from his Native American ancestors, combined with visual storytelling from recent lived experiences. While the shapes and forms found in Chaves’ work undoubtedly do create symbolism which often leads to a narrative or theme, this is not the goal of the project. For this artist, the images are a result of finding an inner truth and translating its message. As for the viewer, one is invited to step into another’s world, one that is strange, magical, and yet familiar. 

Gallery Hours: Thursday–Saturday, 12–5pm, and other weekdays by appointment.