Skylar Smith | 120 Kennedy Avenue | Louisville, KY | 40206 ssmith10@kycad.spalding.edu | 502.640.3447
Education
2004 MFA, Painting and Drawing, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
1998 BFA, Painting and Art History, Maryland Institute, College of Art, Baltimore, Maryland.
2008 Certified Yoga Instructor, Eternal Health Yoga, Louisville, Kentucky.
1997-1998 Italian Language Classes, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland.
1996 Study Abroad, Temple University, Rome, Italy.
Professional Experience
2010-Current Assistant Professor, Kentucky College of Art and Design at Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Instructor for college-level studio art and art history classes: Drawing I, Drawing II, Color and Design I, Color and Design II, Junior Focus, Painting I, Global Survey Art History courses: Ancient to Gothic, Renaissance to Modern, and Modern to Contemporary.
2010-2015 Programming Director, Kentucky College of Art and Design, Louisville, Kentucky. Establishment, management, and oversight of Visiting Artist Program and 849 Gallery at Kentucky College of Art and Design.
Visiting Artist Program Director Responsibilities:
- Coordinated 4-6 on-campus visits by internationally recognized artists for student critiques, public lecture, and public art exhibitions.
- Established and managed Visiting Artist Program budget, determined potential artists, and the visiting artist’s schedule of on-campus events.
- Created and negotiated contracts with artists, coordinated artists’ schedule, travel, and lodging.
- Primary contact for all internal and external visiting artist-related information.
- Created marketing materials including press release, postcard, poster, and digital announcement; contacted press outlets to promote Visiting Artist Program’s public events.
849 Gallery Manager Responsibilities:
- Coordinated 6-8 annual public art exhibitions for exhibiting students, faculty, and nationally recognized artists.
- Determined exhibition programming and scheduling.
- Supervised operations of the gallery: hiring, training, scheduling, oversight of work-study and other gallery assistants.
- Managed gallery finances.
- Oversight of the installation and de-installation of all gallery exhibitions.
- Primary contact for all internal and external exhibition-related information.
- Created marketing materials including press release, postcard, poster, and digital announcement; contacted press outlets to promote 849 Gallery exhibitions.
2007-2010 Founding Member, Kentucky College of Art and Design (formally Kentucky School of Art), Louisville, Kentucky.
- Identified potential supporters for Kentucky School of Art, a new art college in Louisville, KY.
- Scheduled individual meetings and larger gatherings with local community members to generate support and interest for Kentucky School of Art.
- Developed and implemented strategies to start a non-profit organization (Kentucky School of Art).
- Wrote Executive Summary and Business Plan for Kentucky School of Art.
- Wrote Mission and Vision statements for Kentucky School of Art.
- Developed and implemented art programming for prospective students and the public for Kentucky School of Art. Programming included visiting artist lectures, workshops, critiques, and community art classes.
- Created marketing materials including press release, postcard, poster, and digital announcement; contacted press outlets to promote Kentucky School of Art’s public programming.
- Initiated community partnerships and outreach programs with local organizations through Kentucky School of Art’s public programming initiatives.
- Created new Kentucky School of Art curriculum for high school students and instructed pre-college Drawing and Color and Design courses.
- Developed and implemented new curriculum for Kentucky School of Art’s four-year BFA degree program.
2009-2012 Creator, Cabaret Life Drawing and Art with Yoga, 21c Museum, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Created two new public programs for 21c Museum Louisville. Oversight and instruction of weekly community art and yoga classes at a contemporary art museum.
2007-2010 Adjunct Professor, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Instructor of Drawing I, Two-Dimensional Design and Color Theory, Painting I, Renaissance to Modern Art History, and Introduction to Art classes.
2007-2010 Adjunct Professor, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Through JCTC’s Prison Education Program, instructor for college-level classes: Renaissance to Modern Art History, Humanities, and Drawing I in the Kentucky State Prison System.
2007-2009 Adjunct Professor, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Instructor of Drawing II and Two-Dimensional Design classes.
2006 Freelance Illustrator, Maskew Miller Longman Publishers, Cape Town, South Africa.
- Referred by the South African Department of Education to produce anatomical illustrations for one of the largest publishing houses in SA.
- Interfaced with the publisher and author to develop a dynamic layout design for a series of arts-oriented high school textbooks resulting in greater educational accessibility for students.
2006 Freelance Illustrator, Department of Education, South Africa.
- Commissioned by foreign governmental organization to produce anatomical illustrations for a series of arts-oriented high school textbooks.
2002-2004 Assistant to Director, Graduate Painting & Drawing Department. The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
- Recruited by the Director to ensure successful operation of 100 studios.
- Interfaced with various departmental levels of university personnel.
- Promoted a positive image of the university to potential students.
2003 Teaching Assistant, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Graduate Painting and Drawing Department, Chicago, Illinois.
- Taught in a collaborative and creative work environment with four alternating professors, ensuring support, consistency and focus for both students and professors, resulting in a cohesive learning environment.
- Tracked progress of each student, to guarantee accurate student evaluations.
2002 Art Instructor, Louisville Visual Art Association, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Designed and taught curriculum, which increased level of skill and creativity of children and adults.
2002 Scenic Design Artist, Actors Theater, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Demonstrated detail-oriented skills by executing a master design with a team of artists and trade persons.
2000 Artist-In-Residence/Art Instructor, Colegio Trener Monterrico, Lima, Peru.
- Instructor of art classes and after-school community mural painting programs at a Spanish-speaking elementary school.
1998-2000 Rights and Reproductions Assistant, Baltimore Museum of Art, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Coordinated the use of museum-licensed images to domestic and international institutions.
- Increased efficiency of museum’s image library.
1997-1999 Artist Assistant, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Selected to be an assistant to two professional artists in preparation for several traveling exhibitions.
- Contributed to the development of artwork and assisted with transport and installation of artwork in gallery settings.
1998-1999 Scenic Design Artist, Center Stage, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Demonstrated detail-oriented skills by executing a master scenic design with a team of artists and trade persons.
1999 Curatorial Assistant, Contemporary Museum, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Worked with Chief Curator to develop and execute a traveling art exhibition.
- Successfully worked with design constraints of an unconventional exhibition space.
1998-1999 Co-Director and Art Instructor, Living Classrooms Foundation, Baltimore, Maryland.
- Developed an art curriculum that synthesized art and reading skills into an educational format, resulting in better reading scores of inner-city youth.
- Creatively taught art and reading skills to low-income youth in an after school program, under a grant from Governor’s office.
1997 Internship, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York.
- Promoted the Whitney Museum’s collection and art awareness to the public and high school students through public gallery talks and after-school art programs
Solo Exhibitions
2018 March! (Forward/Backward/Forward), The Huff Gallery at Spalding University,
Louisville, Kentucky.
2007 Euphotic Zone, Gallery Nulu, Louisville, Kentucky.
2004 MFA Thesis Show, G2 Gallery, Chicago, Illinois.
2002 Micro:Macro, Aslans How Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
Selected Group Exhibitions
2017 State of Time, Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery, Georgetown College, Georgetown, Kentucky.
2017 Nasty Women Kentucky, juried show, Parachute Factory, Lexington, Kentucky.
2017 Imagine, St. Francis School Invitational Art Auction, Louisville, Kentucky.
2016 KyCAD Gala Faculty Exhibition, Kentucky College of Art + Design 849 Building,
Louisville, Kentucky.
2016 State of Painting, Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery, Georgetown College,
Georgetown, Kentucky.
2015 Accumulation, Patio Gallery, Jewish Community Center, Louisville, Kentucky.
2014 13 Artists, 849 Gallery at Kentucky School of Art, Louisville, Kentucky.
2012 With Child, The Huff Gallery at Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky.
2010-2011 Creativity Rising, Phoenix Hill Public Art Project, Louisville, Kentucky.
2009 Louisville Counts!, Green Building Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
2008 Palmer/ Simon/ Smith, Jefferson Community College Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
2008 Ordered Chaos, VonFire Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
2008 Inside/ Out, Nulu Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
2008 Cradle2Cradle: A Creative Re-use Project, Indiana University Southeast, New Albany,
Indiana.
2007 RoarShock, Swanson Reed Contemporary, Louisville, Kentucky.
2005 The Vagad Project, Rural to Urban/Urban to Rural Workshop. Rajasthan, India.
2005 New Work, Sanskriti Kendra, Delhi, India.
2004 Celebrating Women, Norton Women’s Pavilion, Louisville, Kentucky.
2004 Delicere, LG Space, Chicago, Illinois.
2003 Suspension, 1926 Gallery, Chicago, Illinois.
2003 Art Hotel, Embassy Suites, Chicago, Illinois.
2003 Wallpaper, Stray Show, Chicago, Illinois.
2002 New Talent, Artspace, Louisville, Kentucky.
2001 The Hangar Show, Cardinal Wings Hangar, Louisville, Kentucky.
Artist Residencies and Workshops
2016 Hand-Made Papermaking Workshop at Twin Rocker Handmade Paper, Lafayette, Indiana.
- Private handmade paper-making workshop with Master Papermaker, Travis Becker.
2005 The Vagad Project: A Metamorphosis From Rural to Urban, Delhi, India.
- Invited by Director to participate in an International Artist Workshop to create a site-specific, community-engaged artwork in Rajasthan, India.
2005 Sanskriti Kendra: International Artist Residency Program. Delhi, India.
- Selected by Sanskriti Kendra to complete a month-long artist residency.
2000 Colegio Trener Monterrico: Artist Residency and Workshop. Lima, Peru.
- Invited by Principle to instruct art classes and develop an after-school community mural painting program at a Spanish-speaking elementary school.
Curatorial Projects
2012 With Child, Co-curated with Lisa Simon. The Huff Gallery at Spalding University, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Co-curated group art exhibition examining pre- and post-child artistic practice and output with seven artists. Produced an exhibition catalog with essays, poems, and interviews with exhibiting artists further exploring the exhibition’s theme. Interactive art-making stations for all ages included in the exhibition. Public art classes for the community offered in conjunction with the exhibition, and campus symposium held in collaboration with Spalding University English Department.
2003 Suspension, Co-curated with Deirdre McConnell. 1926 Gallery, Chicago, Illinois.
- Group exhibition in conjunction with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago featuring twelve artists.
2003 Wallpaper, Co-curated with zeke&neen. Stray Show Chicago, Illinois.
- Over fifty art submissions transferred into wallpaper for an international art exhibition.
2001 Hangar Show, Cardinal Wings Hangar. Louisville, Kentucky.
- Curated art exhibition and music performance by the Rachels in a small-airplanes hangar featuring site-specific artwork by twenty artists.
Publications
Lucy Pritchett, ‘What Works’, Today’s Women Magazine, September, 2016.
Sara Havens, ‘Accumulation at JCC’, Insider Louisville, January, 2015.
Holly Gregor, “Be Brave Do Your Thing’, Today’s Woman Magazine, March 2013.
Jo Anne Triplett, ‘Staff Picks’, LEO Weekly, October 15, 2012.
Diane Heilenman, ‘10 Artists to Watch’ The Courier Journal/ Velocity Magazine, April 2010.
Lynnell Edwards, ‘Front Pages’, Louisville Magazine, March 2010.
Stephen George, ‘Artist Profile’, LEO Weekly, September 2, 2009.
Diane Heilenman, ‘Do-Good Public Art Popping Up’, The Courier Journal, September, 13, 2009.
Diane Heilenman, ‘Count On It’, The Courier Journal, September 1, 2009.
Javacia Harris, ‘What I’m Into’, Velocity Magazine, April 22, 2009.
Javacia Harris, ‘The Other End of the Telescope’, Velocity Magazine, August, 30, 2008.
Jo Anne Triplett, ‘Staff Picks’, LEO Weekly, December 20, 2007.
Javacia Harris, ‘Critic’s Picks’, Velocity Magazine, September 23, 2007.
Diane Heilenman, ‘What’s New’, The Courier Journal, September 1, 2007.
Nicole Liest, ‘The Lion, The Artist and Bardstown Road’, LEO Weekly, June 12, 2002.
Diane Heilenman, ‘Gallery Gig’, The Courier Journal, September 16, 2001.
Paul Kopaz, ‘Notes From The Underground’, LEO Weekly, September 19, 2001.
Corporate Collections
Mercantile Lofts, Louisville, Kentucky
Brown-Forman Corporation, Louisville, Kentucky
Commonwealth Wine and Spirits, Louisville, Kentucky
Stockyards Bank, Louisville, Kentucky
Honors and Awards
2011 Spirit Award, Kentucky School of Art, First Annual Fundraiser,
Louisville, Kentucky.
2004 Juried Show, Second Place, Celebrating Women, Norton Women’s Pavilion,
Louisville, Kentucky.
2002 Juried Show, First Place, New Talent, Artspace, Louisville, Kentucky.
1994-1998 Presidential Scholarship, Maryland Institute, College of Art.
2017 Advisory Board Member, Art+Fm, Ground Floor Media Inc. Louisville, Kentucky.
2015 Attended FATE Conference (Foundations in Art: Theory and Education) National
Conference, Indianapolis, IN.
2012 Visiting Artist, Jefferson Community and Technical College, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Invited to present a lecture and workshops for fine art and art history classes during the JCTC Annual Spring Arts Festival. Louisville, Kentucky.
2012 Advisory Board Member, Art+Fm, Ground Floor Media Inc. Louisville, Kentucky.
2011 Panelist, ‘Bars to Walls’ Symposium, University of Louisville.
- Invited by University of Louisville’s Social Justice Department to speak about teaching college level fine art and art history classes in the prison system.
Professional Service
2017 Greater Louisville Imagine 2020 Committee.
- Researched and assisted in drafting a grant application for a GLI 2020, in collaboration with YouthBuild Louisville, to support KyCAD’s Community Art Concentration.
2017 Community Mentor, Kentucky Museum of Art and Design ‘Couture’ Fashion Show,
Louisville, Kentucky.
2017 KyCAD Students at ‘Rainbows and Roses’, IDEASxLab, Louisville, KY.
- Mentored students to submit artwork for a LGBTQ+ art exhibition in collaboration with a local non-profit.
2015-2017 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, Kentucky Museum of Art and Design ‘Couture’ Fashion
Show, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Advising two KyCAD student’s design process for entry into ‘KMAC Couture’, juried fashion show.
- Successfully advocated for a block of ten tickets for KyCAD students to attend the KMAC Couture Fashion Show in the spring, 2017.
2015-2016 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, SoBro Art Walls, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Coordinated KyCAD student-designed, community-painted public mural event with SoBro Neighborhood Association, Kentucky College of Art and Design at Spalding University, and Louisville Metro Government. Mural completed June, 2016.
2015 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, ‘Flash Drawing Mob’ at Mini-Maker Faire, Louisville,
Kentucky.
- Coordinated public drawing event with fifteen KyCAD students at local public festival in downtown Louisville.
2015-2016 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, ‘Smoketown Getdown’, Kentuckians for the Commonwealth, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Coordinated KyCAD student participation in a ‘Chalk-Talk’ event at a block-party in the Smoketown Neighborhood.
2015 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, Fourth Street Neighborhood Association ‘Day of the Dead Festival’ with Craft(s) Gallery, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Coordinated participation of KyCAD student group, Artistic Leaders of Community Collaboration, in the ‘Day of the Dead’ event with Craft(s) Gallery and Fourth Street Neighborhood Association.
2015 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, Art of Prevention - Diabetes-themed Walking Gallery exhibit at Zephyr Gallery
- Coordinated participation of KyCAD students in art/health care initiative designed to raise diabetes awareness.
2015 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, Student Exhibition at Sotheby’s Reality, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Advising on a partnership between Sotheby’s and KyCAD on a group student exhibition at Sotheby’s office.
2014-2015 KyCAD Faculty Advisor, Artistic Leaders of Community Collaboration, Student group, Kentucky College of Art and Design.
- Advising community art -focused student group on several on-campus events.
2013 KyCAD Faculty Advisor for Mural Project, YouthBuild Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Coordinated KyCAD student participation in designing five large-scale murals for YouthBuild’s new playground. Coordinated community painting of the murals at YouthBuild’s playground dedication.
2010-2011 Artist, Creativity Rising, Phoenix Hill Public Art Project, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Through a city grant, one of twelve artists chosen to produce a site-specific, public art piece for and urban neighborhood.
2009-2012 Creator/ Facilitator, Cabaret Life Drawing and Art with Yoga, 21c Museum, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Facilitation and instruction of weekly community art and yoga classes at a contemporary art museum.
2008 Creator/ Facilitator, International Women’s Day, Louisville, Kentucky.
- Under a city initiative, facilitator for Community Art Project at Americana Community Center.
2007 Creator/Coordinator: 100 Paintings Fundraiser, Speed Art Museum, Louisville,
Kentucky.
- Created art installation and coordinated a dance performance with YPAS students for a fund-raising event at an art museum.
Community Service
2017 duPont Manual High School Outreach.
- Contacted Manual High School teacher, Julie Tallent, to coordinate art history lecture by Dr. Sarah Sik for Manual students.
2017 KyCAD Student Off-Campus Art Exhibition.
- As a part of the Junior Focus course curriculum, organized an off-campus twenty-two student art exhibition at ArtxFm with faculty member Josh Azzarella. Exhibition was curated by recognized academic/curator, and catalog was produced.
2017 KyCAD faculty trip to Speed Art Museum.
o Organized faculty trip in collaboration with Speed Art Museum Outreach Coordinator to learn about the Speed’s learning resources.
2017 KyCAD Graduate School Workshop Committee Chair.
- Complied faculty recommendations for graduate school applications, and presented information to student group.
2017 Spalding Career Development Coordinator Search Committee.
- Nominated by KyCAD Chair to serve on committee to fill a new position at Spalding.
2016-2017 KyCAD Study Abroad Committee Chair.
- Conducted research and complied recommendations of study abroad options for KyCAD students. Presented findings to Chair, Dean, and Faculty.
2016-2017 KyCAD Dean Search Committee.
- Nominated by faculty to serve on sixteen-member committee for first KyCAD Dean position. Successfully hired Moira Scott Payne.
2016-2017 KyCAD representative for QEP.
- Served as a liaison between KyCAD and the Spalding QEP committee at Spalding University.
2016 KyCAD Gala Faculty Exhibition.
- Worked with KyCAD Gala Committee Chairs to coordinate a KyCAD faculty art exhibition with twelve participating artists for the annual KyCAD fundraiser.
2015-2017 KyCAD alternate representative for Faculty Senate and Curriculum Committee, Spalding University.
2015-2016 KyCAD Faculty Search Committee.
- Participation on six searches for six full-time faculty hires. Co-Chair for two of the searches. Successfully hired six new faculty.
2015-2016 KyCAD On-Campus Art Supply.
- Initiated relationship between local art supply retailer and Spalding Bookstore to make the purchasing of art supplies possible with financial aid.
2015 KyCAD ‘Vision and Leadership’ Committee.
- Participation on informal committee seeking to explore and identify strategic growth options for Kentucky College of Art and Design including: curriculum, faculty, administration, and facilities.
2015 KyCAD Annual Gala.
- Coordinated art materials for ‘Instant Installation Invitational’ event at KyCAD Annual Fund-raising Gala.
2015 KyCAD New Student Orientation.
- Coordinated two collaborative art events (#kycad weaving wall, and DIY KyCAD t-shirt station) for incoming freshman at new student orientation.
2015 Attended KyCAD Board Retreat, Passionist Earth and Spirit Center, Louisville, KY.
2013-2014 KyCAD representative on UAC Committee, Spalding University Undergraduate Admissions Committee.
2013 Initiated weekly on-campus Student Yoga class for Spalding students.
- Working with the Spalding Human Resources and Student Life Departments, organized free yoga classes for students, faculty and staff.
2011-2012 Co-author, KyCAD BFA curriculum for KyCAD (formally KSA).
2010-2017 KyCAD Internship Advisor.
- Advising over twenty students a year on internship opportunities, placement, and documentation.
2010-2017 KyCAD Admissions recruitment.
- Participation in on-campus portfolio review days, off- campus portfolio review days, and high school recruitment visits.
2010-2015 Public programming of on-campus programs.
- Director of Visiting Artist Program and 849 Gallery at Kentucky College of Art and Design at Spalding University.
University Service
2017 Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft, Louisville, Kentucky.
2016-2017 Olmstead Parks Conservancy, Louisville, Kentucky.
2016 Louisville Film Society, Louisville, Kentucky.
2015-2017 Louisville Public Media, Louisville, Kentucky.
2015-2017 Patron Circle Member, Speed Museum of Art, Louisville, Kentucky.
2009-2013 College Art Association