Smith’s multidisciplinary approach to art has led him to create dynamic works for global art, culture, news, and academic institutions, including Columbia Law School where he’s finishing up his tenure as their inaugural Artist-in-Residence.
As we near the conclusion of the Uptown Triennial 2023 exhibition at the Wallach Art Gallery, Columbia Neighbors spoke with Ross Smith to learn more about his creative journey tracing his artistic roots in New York to his global artistry.
Was there an experience that first ignited a spark to create art or were you always creative?
My father was a jazz musician and my mother has her PhD in education, specializing in early childhood development, so I was always encouraged to be creative. Growing up, I would hear my father in the background rehearsing his music and experimenting freely with jazz. There’d be a lot of fluidity in how he played, which was really inspiring. I’d also be taken to gigs where my father, uncle, cousins, and grandfather would be playing. It’s something I normalized as a kid that I now realize was very special.
You began your career working in journalism. Tell us about that and how it might influence you today.
I started off as a photojournalist working for outlets like the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Charlotte Observer, and the Tallahassee Democrat.
When I was a young photojournalist, my mentors told me that a career as a staff photographer was not going to be sustainable because of the changes in the industry, and I realized I needed to develop a broader skill set. So I went to art school and started doing a lot of interdisciplinary work and merged my background with the fine arts.