Official Artist Site
Chad
Smith
Drummer · Painter · Creator
Best known as the powerhouse drummer behind the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Chad Smith brings the same raw instinct to his visual art — original works rooted in performance, where the act of playing becomes the source of the image.
About the Work
Art born from music,
rhythm made visible.
Chad Smith's works begin in performance — his drumming, captured in long-exposure photography with lighted sticks, becomes the raw material for original paintings and mixed-media pieces that he shapes directly by hand. The results record a moment of pure physical instinct, made permanent on canvas.
Discover the Process →
MvVO AD ART SHOW
The Oculus, NYC
Chad Smith was the featured guest artist of the MvVO AD ART SHOW 2021 — the annual exhibition that transforms the monumental digital screens inside Santiago Calatrava's iconic Oculus at the Westfield World Trade Center into a gallery space. During Frieze week, Chad hosted the virtual opening on May 3rd. His artworks ran on the Oculus screens the final weekend of May 29th and 30th, reaching thousands of downtown New York visitors and tourists in one of the city's most architecturally remarkable spaces.
Watch the Short Doc →"Chad Smith's North American fine art tour has been extraordinary. We're honored to feature him as a guest artist of MvVO AD ART SHOW 2021 — we look forward to presenting his art alongside our talented artists."
Watch
Chad Smith — The Work
Giving Back
Chad Smith Foundation
The Chad Smith Foundation expands access to music education for young people. In 2025, Chad and his family launched the Curtis & Joan Smith Scholarship at the University of Michigan School of Music — continuing a lifelong commitment to the next generation of musicians.
Visit the Foundation →
Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Inducted with the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2012.