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David Smith Paintings: The 18 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye
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
To the gallery's eye, David Smith's most famous painting is Untitled (1964). Hudson River Landscape (1951) and Cubi i complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 19 works by David Smith in our catalog, the gallery presents the 18 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.
1906 – 1965, Decatur
Abstract expressionism
Most works: Whitney Museum of American Art
The gallery's top 10 David Smith paintings
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David Smith paintings, ranked 11 to 18
The museums that keep David Smith's originals
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 |
David Smith, the signature paintings of each year
David Smith's career on this page runs 14 years, 1951 to 1964: each year appears here with its most famous originals.
Works per year
Pick a year to see its originals.
David Smith's paintings: the gallery answers
Which David Smith painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer
Untitled (1964). Hudson River Landscape (1951) and Cubi i come next.
How old was David Smith on completing Untitled?Reveal the answer
58 years old: Untitled dates from 1964, and David Smith was born in 1906.
Which are David Smith's top 10 paintings?Reveal 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. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.
How many works did David Smith create?Reveal the answer
Our catalog holds 19 works by David Smith, dated from 1951 to 1964.
Where do David Smith's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer
Mostly in Whitney Museum of American Art (New York). The museum table above lists them all.
Which are David Smith's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer
On this page, the earliest is Hudson River Landscape (1951) and the latest Untitled (1964).
Which movement is David Smith associated with?Reveal the answer
Abstract expressionism, judging by the originals on this page.
David Smith: the artist
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.