Kasey Smith Artist
American multidisciplinary artist working in the Netherlands
Imitation isn’t the greatest form of flattery, it’s remembrance
An introduction to my work
site specific works + performances + social practice + guerilla interventions + writings
The Guild Of Saint Luke
How do you make art about a place you don’t know?
You learn.
Since moving to the Netherlands in 2023, I’ve been working on a five-part series imagining a conceptual apprenticeship under the great Dutch and Flemish masters — Vermeer, Rembrandt, Van Eyck, Bosch, and Bruegel. Loosely based on the structure of the Guild of Saint Luke, it involves observing and recreating classic artworks as a way of working towards cultural integration.
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The solitary female sitters of Johannes Vermeer.
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Theft, loss, and the works of Rembrandt van Rijn
Ephemeral momento moris for those lost to memory disorders. Each painting is painted on seed-infused papier-mâché and designed to be planted; releasing the forget-me-not seeds embedded inside, but at the expense of the artworks.
Based on the memories and associations of surviving family members, they are tiny testimonials to what we’ve lost, what we hold dear, and what we remember on behalf of those who no longer can.
Memory Seed Bombs
Urban Camo Seed Bombs
A love letter to the potential of urban space. These painted seed bombs are designed to look like common street litter. Placed in areas that are overlooked and undercared for, they are designed to dissolve, releasing the plant seeds inside, bringing greenery to forgotten corners of the cityscape.
The Oakland Urban Camo Seed Bombs contain California poppy seeds and the Amsterdam Urban Camo Seed Bombs contain a variety of local wildflowers and feral garden plants.
Faux Art History
Performance installations about art historical figures that were almost lost to time. These deep explorations of their history and craft were a direct precursor to the Guild of Saint Luke series.
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Seed bombs painted to resemble Imperial Faberge Eggs.
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A creative study of Louis Comfort Tiffany’s work
San Francisco Ghost Sign Mapping Project
A social practice piece started in 2011, the San Francisco Ghost Sign Mapping Project strives to identify, document, research, and map the remaining historic hand painted signs in the San Francisco Bay Area.