A new exhibition unites artist with a common surname. We sent a Smith of our own along – to see what else Patti, Paul, Bob and Roberta have in common

Bob and Roberta Smith – AKA the artist Patrick Brill – enlisted the help of Billy Bragg, Noam Chomsky and Roger Scruton to explain how modern protest works. But his uneven, scattergun approach led to an irritating hour

Furious about the state of education, Patrick Brill (AKA the artist Bob and Roberta Smith) is standing against Michael Gove in the election. Nick Curtis joins him as he takes to the streets of Bagshot – converting a dog-walker and one Tory councillor to his cause

Elections only interest artists when democracy is in crisis – and Shrigley is standing with apathetic slogans like ‘I have nothing to offer but offer itself’, writes Jonathan Jones

Footage of a 2013 art gathering held to protest against then-education secretary Gove now looks a bit mean-spirited, writes Leslie Felperin

Artist Bob and Roberta Smith's alternative party conference in Scarborough was an assorted bag of arts, debate and defiance