Rupert Jasen Smith

Rupert Jasen Smith (1953-1989) was Andy Warhol’s preferred master silkscreen printer and art director from 1974 until Warhol’s death in 1987, playing a crucial role in the creation of nearly half of Warhol's printed works during that period. Their close working relationship involved daily consultations, with Warhol supervising and providing feedback on Smith’s printing techniques. Born in New Jersey and raised in Palm Beach, Florida, Smith honed his skills under landscape painter A. E. Backus before earning his BA in Arts at Pratt Institute, where he met Warhol. Smith's responsibilities included obtaining canvases and film positives from the Factory, consulting with Warhol on the final image, mixing colors, and drying prints.

Smith's own artwork, including his Homage to Andy Warhol series and his Greta Garbo portfolio, have been featured in galleries and are highly sought after by private collectors. His work often incorporates familiar screen-printed images, Japanese brands, and pop culture figures. He also contributed to Warhol's diamond dust technique in the early '80s, a suggestion inspired by writer Bob Colacello. Rupert Jasen Smith passed away in 1989 in North Ridge, Florida, from AIDS.