On April 10th, 2025, we celebrated the opening of The First Years, a new exhibition by Bay Area artist Josh Smith. This ongoing body of work explores the dynamics of family and the ways its structure informs our sense of self. Drawing from personal experience, Smith uses photography to navigate the complexities of parenthood: balancing presence and individuality. His images invite viewers to reflect on their own family histories through a lens that is both intimate and expansive.
Now in its tenth year, the project has grown from a documentary approach into a series of orchestrated vignettes that blur the line between reality and fiction. Smith works in tandem with the natural rhythms of family life, merging spontaneous moments with carefully composed scenes. His photographs often obscure individual identities, creating space for universal recognition. Through unconventional framing, subtle gestures, and emotional resonance, the work evokes quiet, unresolved narratives.
As the urgency of early parenthood fades, The First Years stands as an effort to hold on to what inevitably slips away. Part personal archive, part poetic meditation, the series captures fleeting moments and offers a window into the elusive emotional landscape of family life.
The exhibition runs through June 14, 2025, with collector prints available for acquisition. For more information, please contact the gallery or visit our Artsy page.
Thank you to everyone who joined us for the opening reception and spent time connecting with Josh! We look forward to welcoming you back for more events soon at Leica Store San Francisco.
