Bien Smith lives and works in San Diego, California. A native of the Philippines, Smith periodically travels to the island unleashing new sources of inspiration for his work. He holds a fine arts degree from the University of Oregon's renowned arts program where he studied
painting and sculpture.

Expressing himself with an incisive, quiet intelligence, Bien smith lives and speaks with a directness and simplicity that are in harmony with the imagination and technically accomplished work he produces. His sensibility to light, forms, and placement is evident in his stunning figurative sports related series. A talented pastelist who works in other mediums, Bien's use of exotic color and rich texture in human forms conveys a mastery of his craft infused with both depth and warmth.

An admirer of pastelist Sally Strand's work, Bien's pastels retain the feel of the human hand. His skill helps to integrate these attributes into the complex multi-layered technical treatment evident in every line, and choice of color, making it visually stunning.

Perpetually interested in the process of creating art as much as the result, Bien's development as an artist draws from an adventurous background pushing him to travel widely and delve into other expressions in the visual and performing arts both as a photographer and a musician--all fountains of inspiration for his current work.

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