Lucien Smith, Star of NYC's 2010s Art Boom, Dies at 37
Lucien Smith, a pivotal figure in New York’s early-2010s art scene known for his Rain Paintings, has died at 37; the cause of death has not been disclosed. A Cooper Union graduate who rose to Forbes’ 30 Under 30 lists and commanded seven-figure auction sales, Smith helped nurture younger artists via the nonprofit Serving the People and was preparing a comeback with four new Rain Paintings for a Tripoli Gallery show “Delay of Game” in Montauk, opening Sept. 12, 2026, though the gallery says the exhibition is being delayed to coordinate with his family. Tributes poured in from peers and gallery owners who recalled him as a bright star whose influence will endure.
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