Kara Smith is a Berkshire-based artist and art educator. She received a MA in Art Education from Brooklyn College, and a BFA from the Art Institute of Boston at Lesley University. She has been awarded residencies at MASS MoCA, The Vermont Studio Center, Brooklyn Art Space, and Drop, Forge and Tool, and has exhibited regularly throughout the Northeast. In 2019, she had her first NYC solo exhibition at ChaShaMa and created her first site-specific permanent installation at TurnPark Art Space in West Stockbridge, MA. That same year, she was the recipient of The Martha Boschen Porter Award, a Fund of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation to support a forthcoming (2020) solo exhibit at Avalanche Art Space in Great Barrington, MA. Smith is currently a Teaching Artist and Program Director at Community Access to the Arts (CATA).
Education
2012-2015 M.A. Art Education, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
2001-2003 B.F.A. Fine Arts, Art Institute of Boston, MA
1998-2001 Long Island University at C.W. Post, NY
Spring 2001 LIU at Regents College, London, UK
Residencies
2021 Kasini House/Kolaj Institute, Virtual Residency
2018 MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA
2017 Drop, Forge & Tool, Hudson, NY
2015 Brooklyn Art Space, Brooklyn, NY
2014 The Vermont Studio Center, Johnson, VT
Grants/Awards
2019 The Martha Boschen Porter Award
Selected Exhibitions
2022 HOLIDAY, LABspace, Hillsdale, NY
2021 HOLIDAY, LABspace, Hillsdale, NY
2020 SpaceLAB (curated by LABspace), Collar Works, Troy, NY
CODE, Avalanche Art Space, Great Barrington, MA (Solo Exhibition)
2019 En Masse, Thompson Giroux, Chatham, NY
Hillsdale, LABspace, Hillsdale, NY
Origins of Memory, Site-Specific Installation at TurnPark Art Space, West Stockbridge, MA
Silent Music, ChaShaMa Window Gallery, NY, NY (Solo Exhibition)
GATHER, ARTBAR Gallery, Kingston, NY
2018 Nourishment, CATA Studio Gallery, Great Barrington, MA
The Big Holiday Show, LABspace, Hillsdale, NY
True North, LABspace, Hillsdale, NY
Migration, Movement & Memory, Art School of Columbia County, Ghent, NY
2017 ACT 1: Benefit for Upper Hudson Planned Parenthood, Hudson Opera House, Hudson, NY
2016 Solo Exhibit, Gallery 35, Great Barrington, MA
2015 To The Lover of Small Things, Gallery 22, Peekskill, NY
PRIME: Spring Residency Exhibition, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Eggers Studio Collective, S Artspace, NY, NY
Winter Member Salon, Trestle Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2014 Summer Show, The Road Gallery, NY, NY
Works on Paper, The Road Gallery, NY, NY
2013 How much are you worth, Brooklyn College, Brooklyn, NY
Long(ing), Make_Blank, makeblank.com, Brooklyn, NY
2012 Now.Here.This., Featured Artist for January, 3-art Collective, Brooklyn, NY
On The Fence, The Dirty Dirty, Brooklyn , NY
Celebrate, Pier 14 BWAC, Brooklyn, NY
Performer in L. Mylott Manning’s 700 Spools of Thread (Keep it Together), Chashama, NY, NY
Collection, Make_Blank, makeblank.com, Brooklyn, NY
2011 Paintings selected for use on the set of the Universal Pictures film, The Change-Up
Ruin, Make_Blank, makeblank.com, Brooklyn, NY
Troy Bike Rescue, Art Auction and Fundraiser, Troy, NY
2010 Pierce Henry Productions, New York, NY
The Affordable Art Fair, New York, NY
The Peace Project, Max Lang Gallery, New York, NY
ArtHamptons International Art Fair, Bridgehampton, NY
6x6x2010, Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Rochester, NY
The Great Pop-Up Art Show, Dumbo Arts Center, Brooklyn, NY
Solo Show, Fall Cafe, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Poison, Curious Matter, Jersey City, NJ
Windows Brooklyn, Smith Street and Court Street, Brooklyn NY
2007 Nightshift II: Hidden Hands, White Box, NY, NY
2006 Annual Fall Show, Pier 14 BWAC, Brooklyn, NY
Annual Spring Show, Pier 14 BWAC, Brooklyn, NY
Transformations, Pier 14 BWAC, Brooklyn, NY
Square Foot Show, Art Gotham, NY, NY
2004 Waking Persephone, Vernon, NJ
2003 Senior Exhibition, The Art Institute of Boston, MA
Fine Arts Show, The Art Institute of Boston, MA
2002 Skin, The Art Institute of Boston, MA
Collections
The Art Institute of Boston, MA
Long Island University, Brookville, NY
Professional Experience
Teaching Artist and Program Director, Community Access to the Arts (CATA), Great Barrington, MA 2016-present
Art Teacher, The Co-op School, Brooklyn, NY 2012-2015
Assistant to Mac Rebennack (Dr. John), Brooklyn, NY 2006- 2012
Wardrobe Dresser/Technician, Metropolitan Opera, New York, NY 2009-2012
Studio Manager/ Marketing Coordinator, Studio Milo, Brooklyn, NY 2007-2011
Programs Assistant, CUE Art Foundation, New York, NY 2006-2007
Preparator, Ace Gallery, Los Angeles, CA & Beverly Hills, CA 2004-2005
Gallery Assistant, Copley Society of Art, Boston, MA 2003-2004
Selected Production Experience
Creative Director, ”The Serious Business Rock and Roll Revue III: NYC,” Littlefield, NY
Set designer & Prop Stylist, ”The Greater Good”, Directors Chris Pilaro & Kendall Nelson, BNP Pictures
Art Director, ”Grocery Store Musical”, Directed by Charlie Todd, Improv Everywhere
Art Director, Tina Parol’s “Who´s Got Your Money Now?” Universal Motown, Video Promo
Art Department, Animal Collective’s “Summer Clothes,” Music Video
Art Director & Stylist, “It’s Okay to Look,” Match.com, Web Campaign
Production Designer, “Private Nature,” Director Dan Gold, Short Film
Assistant Stylist, (Art & wardrobe) “Miss March,” Fox Atomic, Marketing video for feature film
Prop Stylist, “IBM Simple Icon Campaign,” Art Director Liz Engelhardt, Commercial Print
Set Designer, “Charged,” Writer/Director Jennifer Ostrega, Off-Broadway Performance
Assistant Set Designer, “She’s Wild Again Tonight,” Director Fia-Stina Sandlund, Feature Pilot,
Production Designer, “After the Parade,” Director Vikram Gandhi, Short FIlm
Assistant Art Director, “Questions Are Sexy,” Ask.com, Web Commercial
Prop Stylist, Dave Hill’s, “Big Brother,” Superdeluxe.com , Comedy Short
Props Stylist, Rebecca Drysdale’s, “L Word Rap,” Superdeluxe.com , Music Video