Creating art from your experiences is how artist Paul Anthony Smith (2010, Ceramics) skillfully succeeded as an artist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith tells stories through his art by practicing unique techniques he learned through his ceramics major and other art forms, while focusing on three aspects in his work \u2014 memory, migration and home \u2014 and exploring the identities between worlds old and new.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith creates work speaking about his personal experience as an immigrant. His work has been featured in museums around the world, and he is currently represented by internationally recognized, Jack Shainman Gallery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He came to the Kansas City Art Institute as an immigrant from Jamaica, in search of understanding more about America with an open mind to Kansas City and everything it had to offer. Smith started as a painting major, but realized shortly after starting school that he wanted to do something more hands-on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Smith graduated from the Ceramics department in 2010, although since graduation he primarily works in photography. He creates paintings and picotage on pigment prints that explore his autobiography, as well as issues of identity within the African diaspora.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He credits KCAI and the Kansas City art community itself with providing him a crucial foundation for his career. While in school, he interned at the H&R Block Art Space, Grand Arts, and worked as an art handler in the museums around Kansas City, including the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art (conveniently located across the street from KCAI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Kansas City art community provides a dynamic and supportive environment for young artists to explore beyond the classroom, allowing them to gain personal growth, establish connections and build a network. Having real-world experience outside of the classroom gave Smith the knowledge he needed to navigate the art world and further develop his career.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt KCAI, I not only took the opportunity to learn about art, but I also used my job skills to learn the ins and outs of what the art world was. I think it is best for students to not just take what the Art Institute offers, but to try and figure out ways to get experience beyond the classroom. It\u2019s up to the artist to get out there and get out of their comfort zone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In May 2023, Smith was invited to KCAI to be a guest juror for the Annual BFA Exhibition at H&R Block Artspace. While in town, students across campus had the opportunity to do a studio visit with him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPaul was always deeply curious about the art world, how artists navigated their careers and how curators and arts organizations played an important role,\u201d said Raechell Smith, Director\/Curator at H&R Block Artspace said. \u201cPaul quickly became embedded in the art community in Kansas City and always seemed to be at the center of the most interesting things that were going on. He\u2019s part of a dynamic community of amazing artists in New York and now it\u2019s his turn to introduce KCAI and the Artspace to a lot of new work and new artists, giving back to students in the same way he benefited from learning about contemporary art and artists when he was here and getting started.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For the past several years, Smith has maintained a successful studio practice based in New York City. His practice celebrates the rich, complex histories of the post-colonial Caribbean and its people. He has had solo exhibitions all over the world including the Jack Shainman Gallery (New York, NY), Brand New Gallery (Milan, Italy), The McKinney Avenue Contemporary (Dallas, TX), the Blaffer Art Museum (Houston, TX), Atlanta Contemporary (Atlanta, GA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n