Shelby K. Smith creates with one simple intention - beauty. Her work, defined by sharp geometric forms and vibrant color palettes, radiates a sense of joy rather than a complex ideology.
While many artists position their creations as visual arguments or personal manifestos, Smith approaches her canvas with a refreshingly unburdened perspective. She sees her art as a visual escape, a carefully designed arrangement meant to elevate mood and offer a moment of visual delight. Each piece is a pursuit of balance, both in color and in form, aimed at producing a harmonious experience rather than stirring confrontation or debate.
A self-taught artist with a rich background in the beauty industry, Smith draws upon decades of experience working with global cosmetic brands like Estée Lauder and L'Oéral. In her last senior role as Executive Director of Makeup Marketing for Bobbi Brown Cosmetiics, she collaborated directly with the founder of the brand to shape product narratives and develp compelling color stories.
Color lies at the core of everything Smith does. Whether it's a subtle gradient or a sharp pop of pigment, her work is orchestrated to provoke emotional reactions. Every artwork begins with a palette - carefully chosen hues that dictate the flow and structure of the piece. From there, she brings order through geometry: clean lines, symmetrical compositions, and brushwork so precise it could be mistaken for digital. Yet despite the clarity and structure, each painting retains a tactile quality. The drama emerges from contrast, the rhythm from repetition. Her minimalism is not empty - it's filled with intention.
Smith is quickly developing her reputation as an emerging artist to watch. Her work has made its way into more than one hundred private homes across the United States and abroad. Her paintings have been exhibited in a multitude of exhibitions and can be found at fine art galleries in New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Massachusetts.
Shelby K. Smith
36h x 48w
Dyptych - Acrylic on birch panels
Shelby K. Smith
30h x 30w
Acrylic on canvas cutout - collaged to birch panel wrapped in shagreen leather fabric
Shelby K. Smith
30h x 40w
Acrylic on birch panel with gold metallic trim
ARTISTS: DARIO CAMPANILE
30h x 40w - Oil on canvas