Wendell Smith

Wendell Smith (b.1972) is a contemporary artist currently living and working in Atlanta GA.  His work reflects the rich visual traditions of the Caribbean incorporating Afro elements and folk culture. Educated  both in the Caribbean and North America, he moderates conversations between  the two regions presenting a narrative of intercultural experiences.  He pursued studies in studio arts at the Savannah College of Art and Design graduating with an MFA in Painting and holds many awards most notable Fulbright scholarship the Artist Fellowship Grant, and Puffin Foundation Emerging Artist Grant His work has been exhibited most notably at: Museum of the Americas, Arlington VA, King Tisdell Cottage Black History Museum, Savannah, GA, the University of Alabama, Huntsville Al, Duke University, Durham NC, Pinnacle Gallery SCAD, Savannah, GA. Jepson Center for the Arts, Savannah GA, and the African American Cultural Center, Charlotte, NC.

Memory is a central factor  in my work as I articulate my personal narratives and lived experiences. My cultural identity.  is central to the experience where the journey motif is used  to reflect the process of time.  Visual images in the work  shift between reality and the abstract. The work probes the questions of existence, my relationship to both the interior (psychological) and  exterior (physical) worlds that define my contemporary experiences. As an observer to the drama of human history I explore those narratives that have brought me to this present. Multi-layering is evident in the work, conveying depth, reflective of history. Intuitive marks  construct the emergence of forms, adding  spontaneity, movement, and the “visual dance.”  Creative expression is paramount given the fact that I exist in a world where I am driven to engage in a useful and meaningful way. 

GA

United States