Artist
River Smith
River Smith is a Manchester-based contemporary artist working across sculpture, installation, drawing and painting. Their practice creates playful, tactile objects and environments that explore sensory experience, interpersonal connection and play. Drawing on autistic perception and traumatic childhood experiences, the work uses play as a method of emotional regulation, transforming uncomfortable subjects into shared moments of curiosity, connection and joy. Their first large-scale sculptural performance piece, The Act of Experiencing Fear (2024), marked an important development toward their current interactive sculptural practice. They have built a professional practise participating in group shows and residencies both across the UK and internationally. In August 2025 a two month residency at Prisma Estudio, Lisbon produced 8 works, funded by an Eaton Fund Grant. These works were showcased in their first solo show “Hold My Hand”, in Lisbon. They are currently working on a new series of painting and sculptures at their studio in Manchester.
River Smith, Not Safe for Childhood series