David Smalling
The artist
Born in 1987 in Kingston, Jamaica, David Smalling lives and works in New York City. He studied Mathematics at Yale University, where he also trained at the Yale School of Art, and holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University.
Drawing from the tradition of Mannerism and the Dutch Golden Age, Smalling’s paintings examine how contemporary social codes and gender norms shape identity and behavior. Through carefully constructed domestic and ceremonial scenes, he explores themes of belonging, aspiration, and restraint, questioning the roles we inherit and perform.
Drawing from the tradition of Mannerism and the Dutch Golden Age, Smalling’s paintings examine how contemporary social codes and gender norms shape identity and behavior. Through carefully constructed domestic and ceremonial scenes, he explores themes of belonging, aspiration, and restraint, questioning the roles we inherit and perform.
Exhibitions
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Elizabethan Collar
March 26 - April 25, 2026
New York
Biography
| Birth | Born in 1987 in Kingston, Jamaica |
|---|---|
| Residency | Lives and works in New York City |
| Education | Yale University, New Haven, USA Yale School of Art, New Haven, USA Harvard University (PhD), Cambridge, USA |
SOLO EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
| 2026 | Elizabethan Collar, TEMPLON, New York, USA |
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| 2023 | Wood and Water, PALO Gallery, New York, USA |
GROUP EXHIBITIONS (SELECTION)
| 2024 | A Billion Brilliant Points of Unity, Fridman Gallery, New York, USA |
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| WHOSE MUSE, PALO Gallery, New York, USA | |
| 2023 | Maison Palo, PALO Gallery, New York, USA |
| 2022 | The Real Wild, PALO Gallery, New York, USA |
Press
Cultured - July 2026
Here's What a Career in Fashion Taught Cathy Ho Lee About Collecting Art
Sam Falb
Whitehot Magazine - April 2026
David Smalling: Elizabethan Collar at Galerie Templon
News
David Smalling
REPRESENTATION OF DAVID SMALLING
Representation
Templon is pleased to announce the representation of David Smalling. Drawing from the tradition of Mannerism and the Dutch Golden Age, Smalling’s paintings examine how contemporary social codes and gender norms shape identity and behavior. Through carefully constructed domestic and ceremonial scenes, he explores themes of belonging, aspiration, and restraint, questioning the roles we inherit and perform. Following his first exhibition at Templon New York in March 2026, his second solo show will open in Brussels on November 12th, 2026.
