Real US dollars and 23.5 carat gold leaf make up this collage by the British artist Justine Smith.

Lettering and text has always been an important part of the artists practice. This work is from an ongoing series of collages exploring language and currency and how that can alter our perception of its meaning.

Paper has always been a primary material in the work of Justine Smith. Her current work is concerned with the concept of money and how it touches almost every aspect of our lives. She is interested in money as a conduit of power and also in the value systems with which we surround it. On a physical level a banknote is just a piece of paper, but it is what a banknote actually represents that is central to Smith’s work. Through her collages, prints and sculptures she examines our relationship with money in a political, moral and social sense, whilst also exploiting the physical beauty of the notes.

Accolades

Justine's work has been exhibited internationally. Notable collections include The British Museum, The British Council, The British Library, The Royal Mint Museum and the UK Government Art Collection along with many international corporations, financial institutions and private collections.