Theatrical Code

Art Megastar Los Angeles · Eastside

Theatrical Code explores the visual language of performance and the ways meaning is constructed through positioning, lighting, and relationships, drawing inspiration from Old Master painting while examining how figures, objects, and environments function as actors within a larger narrative.

Artist

David Smalling

Born in 1987 in Kingston, Jamaica, David Smalling lives and works in New York City. He studied Mathematics at Yale University, where he also trained at the Yale School of Art, and holds a Ph.D. from Harvard University. Drawing from the tradition of Mannerism and the Dutch Golden Age, Smalling’s paintings examine how contemporary social codes and gender norms shape identity and behavior. Through carefully constructed domestic and ceremonial scenes, he explores themes of belonging, aspiration, and restraint, questioning the roles we inherit and perform.