Thomas S. Smith
Dimensions(h/w/d): 68" x 36" X 150"
Location: Roe Blvd North Entry (#1 Map)
Untitled
My influences include the illustrations of Angel Medina and a book of medical illustrations known as Gray’s Anatomy, both of which reference anatomy. Gray’s shows anatomy in a very straightforward and analytical approach, it provides a good foundation into looking at how we are built. However fundamental Gray’s may be it lacks a sense of style that I find thoroughly pleasing. For style and an aesthetic flair I turn to the art of Angel Medina, who exaggerates and reinvents the anatomy of his figures to best suit each pose and movement.
My work focuses greatly on anatomy. I take the facts and accumulated knowledge of Gray’s Anatomy to realize how humans are constructed, how we should look and why we work. I then take Angel Medina’s approach and try to make the poses of my figural sculptures exaggerated but also feasible. I will add and subtract anatomy as I see fit. But its more than just changing the amounts it is reinvention. My goal is to create my own anatomical systems of musculature in each one of my figures.
This goal of anatomical change is realized in the untitled piece I am submitting for placement. The elongated fingers and wide spread toes are certainly unrealistic for an average person, but for this figure the features aren’t odd they are functional, as are the defined forearms and upper back which would require great strength in order to hold this entity upright by nothing more than its fingertips. The head serves a particular purpose as well; it is only there to keep the figure focused on the objective of moving forward and reaching out into the viewer’s space.
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My name is Thomas S. Smith. I was born and raised in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I came to Kansas City because after much research I found the Kansas City Art Institute to be the best school for me. I also enjoy the rich environment that Kansas City provides. One of many cultures and backgrounds, all of which seem to have some appreciation for the arts.
I am currently a sophomore due to graduate in 2010, who is majoring in Sculpture at the Kansas City Art Institute. The high school I attended was Pius XI located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I was fortunate to have been accepted to the school because it is considered one of the top ten fine art high schools in the nation. It was because of the school’s good reputation that I was exposed to many colleges and possibilities outside of my own experience. That same environment also exposed me to a great teaching staff with a wide range of knowledge of materials and artists. Their abilities helped me grow as an artist, which carried me on to win several awards.
Those achievements were the Wisconsin Regional Scholastic Gold Art Award, in January of 2004. The Wisconsin Regional Scholastic Silver Art Award, in January of 2005. The National Scholastic Region At Large Art Portfolio Gold Key Award, in April of 2006. The National Scholastic Art Portfolio Silver Award, in April of 2006. All the art pieces that won each year, with the exception of my portfolio because it was sent onto the nationals competition, where put on display in the Milwaukee Public Art Museum for one month. In May of 2005 the Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin selected my illustration to place on permanent display in the new wing of their hospital. In May of 2005 and 2006 I displayed in the Haggerty Museum at Marquette University. I also joined the Milwaukee sketch club from 2004 through 2005 and was given the honor of working with experienced artists, most of whom had started the club in the 1950’s.