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Your Guide to the 18 Most Famous David Smith Paintings
Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 19 works by David Smith in our catalogue
In short
David Smith's best-known piece is Untitled (1964). Next on the list are Hudson River Landscape (1951) and Cubi i. We have 19 works by David Smith in our catalogue; this guide picks out the 18 best known, with the year, the museum and the story of each piece.
1906 – 1965, Decatur
Abstract expressionism
Most works: Whitney Museum of American Art
The 10 David Smith paintings to know first
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Numbers 11 to 18: more David Smith paintings
Where you can see David Smith's paintings
The museum that holds the most of the paintings on this page.
| Museum | City | Works by David Smith | Paintings from this list |
|---|---|---|---|
 Whitney Museum of American Art |
New York | 1 | Hudson River Landscape |
Year by year: the best-known David Smith pieces
David Smith's dated pieces here cover 14 years, from 1951 to 1964. Go through them year by year.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its pieces.
David Smith: quick answers about the paintings
What is David Smith's best-known painting?See the answer
Top of the list is Untitled (1964). Right behind it: Hudson River Landscape (1951) and Cubi i.
What age was David Smith when creating Untitled?See the answer
58 years old. David Smith was born in 1906, and Untitled dates from 1964.
What are David Smith's top 10 paintings?See the answer
Untitled, Hudson River Landscape, Cubi i, Three planes, N08744 46 lr, Saw head, (1933), 5 And A Half (Use Half Sign), Suspended cube, Untitled and Zig iv. You'll find the year and the museum of each in the list above.
How many works by David Smith are in your catalogue?See the answer
We have 19 works by David Smith in our catalogue, dated 1951 to 1964.
In which museums can you see David Smith's famous works?See the answer
You'll find most of them in Whitney Museum of American Art (New York). The museum list above has the full breakdown.
What are David Smith's first and last famous pieces?See the answer
The earliest piece here is Hudson River Landscape (1951); the most recent is Untitled (1964).
What style or movement is David Smith known for?See the answer
Abstract expressionism, as you can see in the pieces on this page.
David Smith's story
The Sculptural Vision of David Smith
Born in Decatur, United States, David Smith was a sculptor, painter, designer, photographer, artist, writer, and visual artist. His creative journey involved studying at Ohio University and Notre Dame, and he worked on the assembly line of the Studebaker automobile factory in South Bend, Indiana. After moving to New York in 1926, he studied at the Art Students League of New York. During the Great Depression, he participated in the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project. Smith later moved to Bolton Landing, New York, where he operated a studio. During World War II, he worked as a welder for the American Locomotive Company in Schenectady, New York.
His sculptural work is characterized by the use of industrial steel, which he manipulated using an oxyacetylene torch to weld metal. He often created unique works by cutting, plugging, flattening, pinching, and bending steel bars. His output included various series, such as the Agricolas and the Cubi series, which featured stainless steel. In his later years, he utilized spray paint to create stenciled shapes. Beyond sculpture, Smith produced drawings and paintings, including a series known as the Last Nudes.
Notable Works and Exhibitions
Smith's body of work includes several recognized pieces, such as:
His work has been featured in numerous exhibitions globally, including the Venice Biennale and the São Paulo Bienal. His sculptures have been held in collections such as the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York.