David Smith, 1906 – 1965
The 18 Most Famous David Smith Paintings, Ranked
The best-loved painting by David Smith is Untitled (1964). Hudson River Landscape (1951) and Cubi i come next among the canvases readers know best. Our catalogue holds 19 works by David Smith: here are the 18 most famous, each with its year, its museum and what makes it memorable.
Ranked by our popularity score, which combines the searches, visits and orders for each work. Updated November 2026.
- Born · died
- 1906 – 1965, Decatur
- Movement
- Abstract expressionism
- Works in our catalogue
- 19
- Most famous
- Untitled (1964)
- Most works at
- Whitney Museum of American Art
Top 10 David Smith paintings: the canvases everyone knows
More David Smith canvases, 11 to 18
Where David Smith's canvases hang
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's best-loved canvases, year by year
14 years at the easel, from 1951 to 1964: David Smith's best-loved canvases, year by year.
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1951
Ranked 2 of 18Hudson River Landscape
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1964
Canvas 1 of 18Untitled
About David Smith's canvases: your questions answered
What is the best-known painting by David Smith?Read the answer
Untitled (1964), followed by Hudson River Landscape (1951) and Cubi i.
What age was David Smith when Untitled was painted?Read the answer
David Smith, born in 1906, was 58 years old: Untitled dates from 1964.
What are the 10 most famous paintings by David Smith?Read 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. Each canvas in the ranking above comes with its year and its museum.
How many works did David Smith paint in all?Read the answer
19 works by David Smith are in our catalogue, dated 1951 to 1964.
Where can I see David Smith's most famous canvases?Read the answer
Mostly in Whitney Museum of American Art (New York); the list above names each museum and its canvases.
Which are David Smith's earliest and latest famous canvases?Read the answer
The earliest canvas here is Hudson River Landscape (1951); the latest is Untitled (1964).
Which movement is David Smith's painting part of?Read the answer
Abstract expressionism, as the canvases on this page show.
David Smith: a life in paint
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.