MEGAN SMITH
Tales of personal struggles, noble triumphs, and idle confusion are what Zimbabwean artist Megan Smith’s paintings are composed of. The image, either synonymous in tone or all-consuming in color, references individual experiences that have directed, or somehow influenced Smith’s current role as a creative. Her past as an athlete nurtured her capacity for movement and aided in the discovery of her endless reservoir of ideas. “The wear and tear of this pursuit found its resolution in visual creation,” she says. “This accompanied with a strong appreciation for music, culminated in me learning how to play the violin, and finding the emotional peace in music from the inside out, all played an integral part in what is now my multi-disciplinary process.” Her mediums for creation are vast: some being acrylic; acrylic and gouache on paper; and acrylic and ink on canvas. Additionally, her creative process and mindset have considerably changed. Prior, Smith strictly painted on stretched, upright canvas’ for the purpose of control. Today, she harnesses the energy, freedom, and disruption of fluidity that stems from painting on the floor, straddling the art.
Smith’s athleticism presented itself first in life and in college she played tennis and golf. This facet of her identity remains today and even co-exists with her current artistic career. She attended SCAD, Florence University of the Arts and ASU. The message in her art is selfless: she hopes it will mightily invite people of all walks of life to open up their minds, hearts and even vulnerabilities.
MEGAN SMITH ON
Movement has been the main constant in my existence. It has always felt like the only medicine for the inexplicable torment that I’ve known for as long as I can remember. Exertion and the peace that follows it is a constant in my artistic process. I seek it out, be it physically, mentally, or in some cases emotionally. It has been during these highly energy-charged, intimate studio times that I have discovered my authenticity. In terms of painting techniques, I have spent a lot of time mastering the medium itself, keeping the technique traditional. Maintaining stellar craftsmanship, while still allowing the paint to “happen” on the canvas. Oil has been my preferred medium thus far, however, the urgency and discipline it takes to work with acrylic is something that challenges me in that I must commit to the concept a lot quicker, versus having it develop over time. Themes I have addressed and hope to explore in the future are mental health, injury, and identity as perceived through Rorschach cards, ideokinesis, mortality, and lastly conservation works that shed light on the atrocities of species endangerment and what that means for the planet and our future on it.
So, my Rorschach series of work thus far has been an interactive series whereby I invite the viewer to “Perceive - what the see” and have their perspectives broken down articulated with the actual Rorschach method (official cards) to reveal the meaning behind their responses / what they see. For inquiries, sales@agora-gallery.com
ORIGINAL MEGAN SMITH ARTWORKS ON
