Mark Liam Smith
In Tulipmania, I re-examine 17th-century Flemish floral still life painting. I am drawn to this genre of painting for its inherent beauty and symbolism: flowers representing the life cycle, accoutrements pointing to scarcity, drama, the inevitability of death. For me, within each painting is contained a rich narrative that broaches questions from the mundane to the existential.
Though the themes are universal, the way I express them on the canvas is personal. I am colourblind, which means I have difficulty matching colours on the palette to their real-life referents. Early in my career, I attempted to paint my compositions using local colours. Over the years, however, I have come to view my colour blindness not as a deficiency, but rather as a difference. As a result, I use a hyperchromatic palette in lieu of a local one, creating bouquets and memento mori that, hopefully, build on the tradition of floral still life painting.
![Memento Mori](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/464aed59-9e38-4d3f-802d-6f8a41cae0cb/Mark-Liam-Smith-Memento-Mori-Oil-on-canvas-2023040x30in.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on canvas, 2023, 76 x 102 cm (30” x 40”)
![Magpie and Diamond](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1641830155770-UMUB9X2QJVMX9O2DM5SY/MARKLIAMSMITH-magpie+and+diamond.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Tulipmania](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1641830156559-FLKGUA05A4RY41FL7FI6/MARKLIAMSMITH-tulipmania.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on canvas, 2021, 20" x 24" (SOLD)
![Blue Lobster](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/6a12d5c7-2427-4523-9351-46871c0fe1b6/Mark-Liam-Smith-Blue-Lobster-Oil-on-panel-2021-12x16.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16” x 12” (SOLD)
![Small Sunflower](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/16672262-3542-4708-bec2-5aa7fbabd1c5/Mark-Liam-Smith-Small-Sunflower-Oil-on-panel-2021-8x10.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 10” x 8”
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 22" x 30" (SOLD)
![An Iris and an Apple](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173427327-83Z51NGOUES3LME6G9NP/Mark-Liam-Smith-An-Iris-and-an-Apple-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12"
![Beetle and Oyster](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173427864-V6N3IDTKA5WUWBP6CFAG/Mark-Liam-Smith-Beetle-and-Oyster-Oil-on-panel-2020-14x11.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2020, 14" x 11"
![Pomegranate and Saffron](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173432849-CBMSYAOPKVWLMMUT0QGC/Mark-Liam-Smith-Pomegranate-and-Saffron-Oil-on-panel-2021-16-x-12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12"
![Scarab Beetle](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173433858-Y4I7P5CN1GM3JX2E0UD4/Mark-Liam-Smith-Scarab-Beetle-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12" (SOLD)
![The History of Drama](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173435872-FBPZGF6CGD8MABYTQCOB/Mark-Liam-Smith-The-History-of-Drama_Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12" (SOLD)
![Turtle and Ladybug](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173436529-PDCZKX3CGKNPC2O4F1NI/Mark-Liam-Smith-Turtle-and-Ladybug-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12" (SOLD)
![One Green Tulip](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173425334-T9UKKBEEBZVPEQFNSDVX/Mark-Liam-Smith_One-Green-Tulip-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12"
![Peace Rose](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173430109-Z63J6M4WZO2AKTJAG5RT/Mark-Liam-Smith-Peace-Rose-Oil-on-panel-2021-10x8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 10" x 8"
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2020, 16” x 12” (SOLD)
![Two Tulips (Blue Shift)](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173440562-VL13D8732OMS53FCMQ8P/Mark-Liam-Smith-Two-Tulips-Blue-Shift-Oil-on-panel-2020-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12"
![UK Bowl](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173441837-1VP6M65LOS4EJX8AOMCH/Mark-Liam-Smith-UK-Bowl-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16"x 12" (SOLD)
![Two Peaches](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637178288536-ACIYETLJAKCLGZ9PQ74O/Mark-Liam-Smith-Two-Peaches-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12"
![Homo Erectus, The First Painter](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1637173429870-98VKGJIG4GLLE3AVK0BZ/Mark-Liam-Smith-Homo-Erectus-The-First-Painter-Oil-on-panel-2021-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2021, 16" x 12" (SOLD)
![The Judgement of Van Huysum](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733794774-85R5VO3BHB5RIC0ZMR0Z/Mark-Liam-Smith-The-Judgment-of-Van-Huysum-Oil-on-paper-2019-17-x-4.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on paper, 2019, 17" x 14" (SOLD)
![Abundance](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733785880-BP4758R842QCJUCCL6O7/Mark-Liam-Smith-Abundance-Oil-on-canvas-2019-40-x-30.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 40" x 30" (SOLD)
![The Banquet](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1572445257114-46BYL4UQ8GPB6DHX31HK/Mark-Liam-Smith-The-Banquet-Oil-on-canvas2019-40-x-60.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on canvas, 2019, 40" x 60" (SOLD)
![Bee and Tulip](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733787699-LHFAIJ89KAY8S61IZBHQ/Mark-Liam-Smith-Bee-and-Tulip-Oil-on-panel-2019-10-x-8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Bumblebee and Rose](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733787479-Q9VQXCS51AHUJPQ52FWN/Mark-Liam-Smith-Bumblebee-and-Rose-Oil-on-panel-2019-10-x-8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Bumblebees](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733789421-BSSAR8WKZWGGSSLB4101/Mark-Liam-Smith-Bumblebees-Oil-on-panel-2019-10-x-8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Grapes and Spider](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1573671080754-IZXWRG1LEZHAU33PGCU7/Mark-Liam-Smith-Grapes-and-Spider-Oil-on-panel-2019-10x8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10” x 8” (SOLD)
![Grapes and Tulip](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733790679-2J9DLN36BCAYRGJPSGVC/Mark-Liam-Smith-Grapes-and-Tulip-Oil-on-panel-2019-10x8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Grapes and Rose](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733784692-YT83F8Z812SP953A6R49/Mark-Liam-Smith_Grapes-and-Rose-Oil-on-panel-2019-10x8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Lemon and Vase](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1574113925534-RWVJZXZ7IDTX8EBCOY1G/Mark-Liam-Smith-Lemon-and-Vase-2019-Oil-on-panel-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 16" x 12" (SOLD)
![Lemon and Grasshopper](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733792333-6QL318TM2E8SIWNMTSEH/Mark-Liam-Smith-Lemon-and-Grasshopper-Oil-on-panel-2019-16x12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 16" x 12" (SOLD)
![Small Vanitas](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733793034-M1MRWDVL8X3XFFHXKH6B/Mark-Liam-Smith-Small-Vanitas-Oil-on-panel-019-10x8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![Snail and Tulips](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733794913-M6AQU6BN4B0AX2OYOJEW/Mark-Liam-Smith-Snail-and-Tulips-Oil-on-panel-2019-10x8.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 10" x 8" (SOLD)
![The Lobster](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733796938-HC4YTSXPZTTPNXU9L8XD/Mark-Liam-Smith-The-Lobster-Oil-on-panel-2019-12-x-16.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 12" x 16" (SOLD)
![Vanitas](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/592f1ecec534a556377f8376/1568733797653-CZIM5FC0063SPR1KBJSN/Mark-Liam-Smith-Vanitas-Oil-on-panel-2019-16-x-12.jpg)
Mark Liam Smith - Oil on panel, 2019, 16" x 12" (SOLD)